The mystery of a flower that blooms only once every 400 years?

The information circulating online shares a common characteristic: they all refer to the flower that blooms once every 400 years as Mahameru Pushpam or Arya Pu. However, these sources don't just describe one species; they show at least three different types of flowers with varying images, with some even calling them pagoda flowers. Let's investigate whether these flowers actually exist.

This is not the Mahameru Pushpam flower. Its scientific name is Protea cynaroides, belonging to the genus Protea, family Proteaceae.

False information claims that the image on the left is the Mahameru Pushpam flower, but in reality, it is the Saguaro flower, a type of cactus, scientifically known as Carnegiea gigantean, which blooms annually in May-June, not every 400 years (right and bottom images).

fireflyforest.com, Wikipedia

First, there is a white, pyramid-shaped flower, with a large base that tapers upwards, known as Mahameru Pushpam or Arya Pu (Poo) flower. Based on the image, it can be confirmed that this is a real flower, but it is not a rare flower in the Himalayas, nor is it called Mahameru Pushpam. The correct scientific name of this flower is Protea cynaroides, the largest flowering plant in the genus Protea, belonging to the family Proteaceae; its English names are protea, king protea, giant protea, king sugar bush, or honeypot; the Chinese call it Emperor Flower (帝王花)…

Protea cynaroides is the national flower of South Africa, distributed throughout southwestern and southern South Africa. It is also found in Australia, South America, India, South Asia, and Oceania. This species blooms year-round, with peak blooms during the summer months, rather than a 400-year cycle. At first glance, many petals appear to form a single Protea cynaroides flower, but these petals are actually bracts surrounding the true flower cluster; these bracts range in color from white and pink to red.

The second piece of misinformation involves showing an image of a Saguaro flower and claiming it's a rare species, something to be lucky to see. In reality, the Saguaro is a type of cactus, scientifically known as Carnegiea gigantean. The flower blooms annually in May-June, not every 400 years. The "Saguaro" flower is the national flower of Arizona, USA.

The name Mahameru flower is incorrect (above); this is actually Rheum nobile, a plant belonging to the Polygonaceae family (below).

This flower is not the Mahameru flower (above); this is the Salvia Hot Lips flower, scientifically known as Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips', belonging to the Lamiaceae family.

The third source presents an image of a flower and claims it is the Mahameru, but it is not. It is Salvia Hot Lips, scientifically known as Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips', belonging to the Lamiaceae family. This species is distributed in southeastern Arizona and some parts of Mexico. The name microphylla comes from Greek, meaning "small leaf." In Mexico, it is called mirto de montes, or "myrtle of the mountains." The fourth source shows an image of a flower and also calls it the Mahameru, adding the name pagoda flower. This source fabricates absurd information, as it is actually Rheum nobile , a flowering plant in the Polygonaceae family. This species is also known by other names such as Sikkim rhubarb or noble rhubarb, and the Chinese call it pagoda rhubarb (塔黄)... It is a herbaceous plant about 1-2m tall, native to the Himalayas, distributed from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India to Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet and Myanmar... Please note, there is one discrepancy: Rheum nobile These are not temple flowers.

So what exactly is "temple flower"?

The pagoda flower, scientifically known as Clerodendrum paniculatum, is a species belonging to the genus Clerodendrum, family Lamiaceae. It originates from tropical Asia and Papuasia (southern China including Taiwan, Indochina, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, etc.) and other parts of Asia. It is called the pagoda flower because its flower shape resembles a pyramid or a Japanese temple. The Chinese call it Yuan Zhu Da Qing (圆锥大青), while the Vietnamese call it Ngoc Nu Do, Mau Do, or Xich Dong Nam.

This is the true temple flower (clerodendrum paniculatum). In Vietnam, this flower is called red pearl, red mulberry, or red clerodendrum.

In short, the information circulating on social media claiming that the flower blooms only once every 400 years is false. Furthermore, there is no such flower called Mahameru Pushpam or Arya Pu (Poo). Only the red Clerodendrum paniculatum is the true temple flower; other flowers with the same name are misidentified. Several foreign websites have also raised the alarm about this misinformation.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/bi-hiem-loai-hoa-400-nam-moi-no-mot-lan-18523060807200016.htm