Rose

Ah, the rose! Roses have been associated with romance since ancient times. Artists in ancient Crete were inspired by their beauty more than three thousand years ago, painting pictures of them on their walls. They were said to be the favourite flower of any number of love goddesses, from the Greek Aphrodite to the Egyptian Isis, because of their luxurious petals and sweet smell. They're also the symbol of England, and the national flower of the United States.

The rose's brightly coloured petals and smell help attract bees and other insects, who feed on the sugary nectar of the flower. At the same time, they accidentally get bits of pollen stuck to them, which they carry from one flower to another. Pollination, as this process in called, fertilizes flowers so they can become fruits containing the seeds to grow more roses.