All through historical past, vegetation have performed a symbolic position in human burial practices as elements of graveyard landscapes and on particular person tombstones. The which means of every vegetation can differ relying on non secular affiliations.
As a part of a analysis undertaking carried out by means of the William L. Brown Heart and College of Missouri St. Louis, Tonia O’Neal put collectively the next checklist of some extra frequent plant depictions on monuments in St. Louis.
Flowers
Almond Blossoms, Prunus dulcis, symbolize rebirth.
Bellflower, any species of Campanula, is a logo for consistency, like a church bell that rings at particular occasions.
Carnations, dianthus caryophyllus, set at a headstone are meant to symbolize the ardour of Christ.
Clover, the frequent identify for any species of Trifolium, is taken into account a logo for the trinity due to its three leaf sample. It’s also a logo of Eire and should symbolize the placement of the deceased’s house nation.
Daisies, bellis perennis, typically adorn kids’s headstones as a result of they symbolize innocence. The simplicity of this flower made it an early addition to tombstone iconography as a result of it was simpler to create with primitive strategies.
Lilies, that are any species of Lilium, represents purity, charity, and hope.
Lily of the Valley, Convallaria majalis, is just not a lily. It’s a herbaceous perennial that produces white flowers. At gravesites, it symbolizes innocence.
Pansies, Viola × wittrockiana, are a logo of modesty and humility.
Ardour flowers, together with a number of species of Passiflora, Passiflora caerulea, tackle a Christian context, symbolizing Christ’s crucifixion, and redemption.
Roses are wealthy in symbolism. The which means assigned to roses in life are additionally assigned to headstones. Pink roses symbolize ardour, white symbolize purity and peace, and yellow roses friendship.
Meals Vegetation
Grapes at graves are supposed to symbolize the blood of Christ. When paired with wheat the scene represents the Holy Communion.
Wheat, Triticum aestivum, by itself symbolizes rebirth, lifeforce, and mankind. When proven in a grouping, it represents an extended life.
Olive, Olea europaea, symbolizes justice and peace, simply as mirrored within the expression, “to increase an olive department.”
Hops adorn the grave of Adolphus Busch, co-founder of a brewery Anheuser-Busch. That is an instance of plant iconography distinctive to a person. Hops, a key ingredient in beer, symbolize his brewing profession.
Bushes
Oak bushes and acorns has an extended historical past in funeral iconography. Oak is a sacred image within the Celtic, Greek, Norse, and Roman cultures. Just some of the ideas oak represents are; energy, energy, stability, endurance, honor, advantage, religion, eternity, fertility, and justice.
The fig tree, totally different species of Ficus, is believed to be the unique “Tree of Information” and due to this fact represents data, earthly happiness, abundance, and fertility.
Spruce (Picea abies) represents the resurrection of Christ and immortality.
Bushes as a grave markers
Tree stones, or a using a tree stump or tree motif as a gravestone, have been prevalent through the Victorian period. They symbolize quite a few totally different ideas starting from a life minimize brief to abilities resembling carpentry. The tree stone offers the backdrop for different symbols in some instances.
Different vegetation
Palm leaves, from any sort of palm, are a logo of a martyr’s victory over dying.
Laurel, Aucuba japonica, symbolizes many issues, and context might change the which means barely. When within the form of a wreath, it might symbolize immortality and eternity. This comes from it being evergreen and the closed circle representing eternity. Within the type of a crown, laurel represents victory. In some instances, it might imply navy success. Surrounding iconography may also help decide this.
Ivy is used on gravestones to symbolize many meanings. When ivy seems to cling to or climb up the gravestone, it represents friendship and timeless attachment. Ivy also can represents immortality.
Mushrooms
Whereas not technically vegetation, fungi have their funerary symbolism, too. Mushrooms can symbolize the whole lot from a selected artisan leaving their mark on the tombstone, the fairy realm, to dying itself. It is determined by the formation and kind of mushroom. As an example, destroying angel, amanita virosa, represents dying.