National Flower of Argentina

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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Erythrina crista-galli. (Discuss)

Ceibo flower

The National flower of Argentina is the ceibo (Erythrina crista-galli) since December 23, 1942, when the Executive Branch appointed it by Decree 13847.

For the selection of the national flower, the Ministry of Agriculture designated a special commission that proposed the ceibo. On the motives for the selection over the other candidate flowers, the decree remarks:

That the flower of ceibo has deserved the preference of a great number of inhabitants of different zones of the country in the several popular polls promoted by press organisms, cultural and scientific entities.
That these circumstances had determinated the knowledge of the flower of ceibo in almost every country in Europe and America, where it is also stated, in virtue of the aforementioned circumstances, as the floral representative of the Argentine Republic.
That the flower of ceibo, whose diffusion covers extensive areas of the country, has been evoked in aboriginal legends and sang by poets, serving also as motive for musical pieces that have enriched our folklore, with artistic expressions of deep popular roots and typically autochthonous.
That the colour of the ceibo figures among those in our coat of arms, expression of Argentinity and emblem of our nation.
That besides having the ceibo tree industrial applications for its wood, its extraordinary resistance to the environment and its easy multiplication have contributed to the geologic formation of the delta of the Mesopotamia, pride of the country and admiration of the world.
That diverse official, civil and military institution, have established the plantation of the ceibo by the mast that sustains our flag, assigning it symbolic and traditionalist character.
That, on the other hand, no other flower exists in the Republic that would gather botanical, fito-geographic, artistic and historical characteristics that could deserve the unanimity of opinion to assign them the status of national flower, as made manifest by the polls and concourses that have been driven.
That neither does the possibility exist that a plant could cover the whole extension of the country without discontinuity, given the diversity of its climate and ecological conditions.