Benefits
The dried flowers are traditionally prepared for various non-culinary uses. Cornflower has a long history of inclusion in herbal traditions and is often used in botanical preparations and topical formulations. It is also valued for its gentle nature and is commonly incorporated into cosmetic products, teas, and decorative herbal blends.
Additional Information
Cornflower is an annual plant in the daisy family noted for its vibrant
blue-to-purple flowers owing to a blue pigment called protocyanin. It is
so-named, because the plant tends to pop up in crop fields. Cornflower
is native to Europe, but is now naturalized in other parts of the world,
including North America and Australia.
Because the flower heads were once worn by young men to indicate
their marital status, cornflower is also commonly called bachelor's
button and boutonniere flower. The genus name for the plant is a
reference to the centaur Chiron, who taught humankind the virtue
of herbs. The species name, Cyanus, comes from mythology for a youthful
devotee of the goddess Flora (Cyanus), whose favorite flower it was.
Cornflower petals add lovely color to salads, dressings, baked goods,
floral waters and teas. In fact, in terms of the latter, cornflower is a
key ingredient in Lady Grey tea.
Background
Its Latin name, Cyanus, comes from mythology for a youthful devotee of the goddess Flora (Cyanus), whose favorite flower it was. Tte name of the genus is derived from the Centaur, Chiron, who taught humankind the healing virtue of herbs.
Listed in the French Pharmacopoeia since 1884.
