Originating from Persia and being called “laleh” – “Flower of God” in Persian, in spite of its expatriation and naturalisation across the world, the tulip remained faithful to its homeland, colouring its valleys for centuries, year after year, with its red blooming carpets. Deeply rooted into the local mythology and culture as a symbol of god, love and martyrdom, its symbolism remains even in modern times key to its motherland, nowadays the Republic of Iran, to the extent, where a stylised image of the tulip representing the word “Allah” has been adopted in 1979 as the national emblem of the country and is featured on the Iranian flag.

Flag of the Republic of Iran. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons