Needle Flowers, Flowers that Accompanied the Childhood of the 90s Generation

The 90s generation must be familiar with this flower. Usually, this flower is known as the needle flower or asoka flower. This flower, with the Latin name Ixora coccinea, often grows in groups and has striking colors. Usually, some people often make this plant as an ornamental plant or form it into a hedge.

This ornamental plant can be found in various colors, such as pink, bright red, yellow and orange. Apart from being used as an ornamental plant, the 90s generation also often used this flower as a toy during their childhood. These flowers are picked and arranged into crowns, necklaces or bracelets. Not only that, the 90s generation also often drank the nectar that came out of the tip of this flower stalk. Even though one stalk of Ashoka flower only produces a little nectar, the taste is quite sweet and addictive. So sometimes, the 90s generation likes to suck more than one stalk of Ashoka flower.

Not many people know that the childhood habits of the 90s generation were actually positive habits. Where the Ashoka flower nectar that is sucked turns out to have extraordinary health benefits. Reporting from brilio.net, Ashoka flower nectar contains anthocyanins which can prevent infections and bladder cancer as well as hermatoxylin which can treat hemorrhagic dysentery. Apart from its nectar, Ashoka flowers also have properties such as treating irregular menstruation, relieving cramps in the calves and treating bruises on the body.

It doesn't stop at health benefits, this flower also has other functions if planted in the home garden. One of them is to attract the presence of wild animals to suck nectar like butterflies. This is because Ashoka flowers have striking and warming flower colors, so it is not surprising that this flower is nicknamed the "Flame of the Wood" or Forest Fire. Because of its striking color, many butterflies or bees are attracted to this flower. Usually, the types of butterflies that like to approach these flowers are the Papilio memnon and Papilio demoleus butterflies.

The Ashoka flower plant also has a unique name meaning. The name of this flower, namely asoka, comes from Sanskrit which means "free from sadness". As the name suggests, the beauty of this flower with its bright colors can make someone happier.