Why Is the crabapple Flower Called the "Heartbreaking Flower"
In the colorful world of flowers, the crabapple flower stands out with its unique cultural connotations. This plant, known as the "divine flower" by ancient people, is also called the "heartbreaking flower," a poignant alias that hides behind what natural characteristics and human emotions? Let's explore the mystery of the crabapple flower's name through the dual perspectives of scientific research and literary imagery.
Analysis of Plant Toxicity Characteristics
Bios alkaloid Poisoning Mechanism
Modern botany research shows that some crabapple varieties (such as weeping crabapple) contain trace amounts of colchicine and calcium oxalate crystals in their cell sap. These compounds, as part of the plant's natural defense mechanism, can cause skin irritation and swelling upon contact, and ingestion can lead to digestive tract burns. The明代 "救荒本草" already recorded that "its juice causes ulcers upon skin contact," confirming the ancient understanding of crabapple's toxicity.
Manifestation of Poisoning Symptoms
Clinical data show that adults may experience vomiting and diarrhea after ingesting 50 grams of fresh crabapple stems and leaves. Although the description "见血封喉" in the Song Dynasty's "Taiping Shenghui Fang" is exaggerated, the name "heartbreaking" indeed originated from the victims'直观 feeling of abdominal pain as if being cut by a knife. It is important to note that normal observation does not cause toxic reactions, as Li Shizhen said, "Admire its beauty from afar, and avoid its essence when near."
Cultural Imagery Inheritance Context
Trace of the "Bitter Love" Flower Symbolism
Since Wang Renyu of the Tang Dynasty first mentioned the "heartbreaking flower" image in " Kaiyuan Tianbao Yishi," the crabapple has been closely associated with longing. This cultural symbol was formed not only because of its short blooming period (only 7-10 days) but also because "棠" and "堂" are homophones, signifying "longing deep in the bones, looking through the halls." Su Shi's "afraid the flowers will sleep in the deep night" further pushes this fleeting beauty to the extreme.
Folklore Evolution
The "Red crabapple Weeping Blood" legend流传ing in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions tells the story of a girl waiting for her lover at the border, who turned into a crabapple. This folk narrative, which integrates the "Jingwei Filling the Sea" element from "Shanhai Jing," has been passed down from generation to generation, elevating the "heartbreaking" image from a physiological reaction to an emotional symbol. It is worth noting that in different regional legends, the color of the crabapple flower changes with the narrative tone, with white representing unfulfilled first love and red symbolizing bleeding longing.
When we dispel the historical mist, the dual identity of the crabapple flower is finally explained: it is both the survival wisdom of plant evolution and the projection of human emotions. This amazing blend of science and humanities makes the name "heartbreaking flower" transcend its literal meaning, becoming a unique imagery symbol in Chinese flower culture. In contemporary horticultural practice, the crabapple still continues this dangerous and beautiful cultural memory with its "admirable but not to be touched" characteristics.