The Flower Dragon was photographed at the Denver Botanical Garden on September 14, 2021. Before learning the proper name of this flower, I called it the Flower Dragon because its appearance and essence gave rise to the image of a Chinese mythological dragon in my mind’s eye. Staring at it, I saw a small flower face with an elongated snout with several arms and two flaming ears or wings extending from its head.
Later, I learned that this flower is commonly called the Flame Flower or Flame Nasturtium. Seeing other images of this particular species online, I felt that I encountered a very special individual within this flower family. This particular flower had a special vibrancy as can be seen in the flow of its flaming petals and the distinctness of each of its features, which seemed to give it a fully differentiated individuality. This Flame Nasturtium was completely and perfectly manifesting all of its physical and spiritual potentials as a flower being, a perfection of its flower form, flawlessly glowing and radiating with all its beauty, essence and powers.
The scientific name of the Flame Nasturtium is Tropaeolum speciosum. There are eighty different species of the flower genus Tropaeolum. The flower is a native of South America, particularly Chile. The more common species is Tropaeolum majus, as found in most nurseries and gardens. Generally, these flowers are known as Nasturtiums. They are also commonly called the Monks Cress or Indian Cress. The featured Flame Nasturtium (or Flower Dragon as I call it) differs the more common species of the majus in that the edges of the petals are more spiked rather than rounded. Also, the central body of the flower is more prominently exposed. As a comparison, below is a photo of the more common garden Nasturtium.
This common Nasturtium to the left (majus species) has the typical five petals, but the edges are more rounded and overlapping. The center of the flower has an internalized cavity, whereas the Flame Nasturtium ( the Flower Dragon) has a more externalized body center. Interestingly, in the photo of the majus species, the interior core looks like it has a hidden cathedral deep inside its center. Another perspective is that it looks like that same yellow flower face of the Flower Dragon, but this face of the majus species seems to be gasping with fear as it looks out into the world. So, it remains internalized within the flower core, hiding in its cave. Hence, it seems that the Flower Dragon has fully emerged from its cathedral or flower cave.
This particular photo was taken in the gardens of Lucia, a one-stop town along the central coast of California off highway one. Most Nastriutums are usually red, yellow and orange color patterns.
Nastriutums are also edible and nutritious. There are many Nastriutum salad recipes available that include both the stems and flowers, which have a peppery or mustard taste. Their seedpods are also edible and used like a caper when pickled. Nastriutums are also used in gardens as a companion plant to beans, broccoli, cabbage, cucumber, kale, melons, pumpkins and radishes. Their valuable function in the garden is to draw aphids and other pests away from their companion plants.