FLOWERS, in antiquity. We find flowers in great request at the entertainments of the ancients, being provided by the master of the feast, and brought in before the second course; or, as some are of opinion, at the beginning of the entertainment. They not only adorned their heads, necks, and breasts, with flowers, but often bestrewed the beds whereon they lay, and all parts of the room with them. But the head was chiefly regarded. See GARLAND.
Flowers were likewise used in the bedecking of tombs. See BURIAL.
Eternal Flower. See XERANTHEMUM,
Everlasting Flower. See GNAPHALUM,
Flower-Fence. See POINCIANA,
Sun-Flower. See HELIANTHUS,
Sultan-Flower. See CYANUS,
Trumpet-Flower. See BIGNONIA,
Wind-Flower. See ANEMONE,
} BOTANY
Index.
Flower-de-lis, or Flower-de-luce, in Heraldry, a bearing representing the lily called the queen of flowers, and the true hieroglyphic of royal majesty; but of late it is become more common, being borne in some coats one, in others three, in others five, and in some seence or spread all over the escutcheon in great numbers.
The arms of France are, three flowers-de-lis or, in a field azure.
Flower-de-Luce. See IRIS. BOTANY Index.