- flora
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/flawr"euh, flohr"euh/, n., pl. floras, florae /flawr"ee, flohr"ee/ for 2.1. the plants of a particular region or period, listed by species and considered as a whole.2. a work systematically describing such plants.3. plants, as distinguished from fauna.4. the aggregate of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms normally occurring on or in the bodies of humans and other animals: intestinal flora.[1655-65; < NL, L Flora the Roman goddess of flowers (used from the 17th cent. in the titles of botanical works), deriv. of L flor- (s. of flos) FLOWER]
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Roman goddess of flowering plants.Her cult was supposedly introduced into Rome during its earliest years by the Sabine king Titus Tatius. Her temple stood near Rome's Circus Maximus, and her festival, the Floralia, was instituted in 238 BC.* * *
in Roman religion, the goddess of the flowering of plants. Titus Tatius (according to tradition, the Sabine king who ruled with Romulus) is said to have introduced her cult to Rome; her temple stood near the Circus Maximus. Her festival, called the Floralia, was instituted in 238 BC. A representation of Flora's head, distinguished only by a floral crown, appeared on coins of the republic. Her name survives in the botanical term for vegetation of a particular environment.Myths about her are recorded in Ovid's Fasti, Book V. A nymph called Chloris was kissed by the West Wind, Zephyrus, and was turned into Flora. This story is the subject of Sandro Botticelli's Primavera. According to Ovid, Flora helped Juno—who was angry that Jupiter had produced Minerva from his own head—become pregnant with Mars by giving her a magic flower.* * *
Universalium. 2010.
