Specimen collected in Offenbach, Germany, 06/2018
Specimen collected in Offenbach, Germany, 06/2018(Backlit)

Cyanus segetum

Scientific Name
Cyanus segetum
FAMILY
asteracea
LIFESPAN
annual
BLOSSOM SYMMETRY
radial
Common Name
Cornflower
ORDER
asterales
BLOSSOM COLOR
blue
PHYLLOTAXIS
alternate

Cyanus segetum, commonly known as cornflower or bachelor’s button, is an annual wildflower native to Europe and long associated with traditional grain fields. It is instantly recognizable by its vivid, electric-blue flower heads—an uncommon hue in wild flora—formed from distinctive, star-shaped florets. The genus name Cyanus stems from the Greek kyanos, meaning “deep blue,” a tribute to its striking color. Historically, cornflower blue symbolized fertility and fidelity in rural European folklore, and the plant became an emblem of Romantic-era landscapes once common in wheat fields. Unlike many arable weeds, Cyanus segetum has declined due to modern agriculture, giving it a special cultural status as a symbol of vanished traditional farmlands.

More Specimens

Detail of specimen collected in Offenbach, Germany, 06/2018
Detail of specimen collected in Offenbach, Germany, 06/2018(Backlit)
Pierre-Joseph Redouté, La Botanique de J. J. Rouessau Pl. 37
Pierre-Joseph Redouté, La Botanique de J. J. Rouessau Pl. 37(Illustration)