Cornflowers

The wild Cornflower. (Centaurea cyanus ) Often classed as an arable weed the Cornflower has declined dramatically in the wild due to modern arable practices and use of powerful herbicide weedkillers. This striking flower is now found mostly growing in hedgerows and roadsides. Cornflowers were found in Tutankhamun’s tomb in Egypt. Despite having being over 3,000 years old they had lost very little of their colour. The French wear Cornflowers much like we wear poppies: as a symbol of remembrance. It is known as the Bleuet de France. According to Greek mythology, cornflowers were used to counteract the effect of arrows tipped with poison from the Hydra, the many-headed monster believed to guard Hades or the Underworld. Photography © Jeremy Sage

Image dimensions: 3192 x 4788 pixels