The rose is the "national floral emblem" of our country. President Ronald Reagan signed a joint resolution creating that designation into law on Oct. 7, 1986, in a ceremony, held, appropriately, in the White House Rose Garden. On Nov. 20, 1986, Reagan signed a proclamation to that effect.

It's not the first time the rose has been recognized by governments — it's the state flower of New York, Iowa (the wild version), North Dakota (the prairie version) and of the District of Columbia (the American Beauty, naturally).

In Hawai'i we flourish in a cosmopolitan rainbow of ethnicity, and many flowers are symbolic for us. In that spirit, I wanted everyone to be aware of national flowers of countries around the globe, from Argentina to Zimbabwe.

Argentina: Ceibo (Erythrina crista-galli). Adopted Dec. 2, 1942.

Australia: Golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha). National Wattle Day is Sept. 1.

Austria: Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum). Perennial flowers are star-shaped.

Bahamas: Yellow elder/cedar (Tecoma stans). Blooms summer/early fall.

Barbados: Dwarf poinciana (Poinciana pulcherrima). Called the Pride of Barbados.

Belgium: Wild red poppy (Papaver rhoeas).

Belize: Black orchid (Encyclia cochleatum). Intense dark color.

Bhutan: Blue Himalayan poppy (Meconopsis betonicifolia). Also native to Tibet.

Brazil: Cattleya orchid (Cattleya labiata). "Corsage orchids."

Great Britain: British dogwood tree flower (Columbia Cornus nuttalli). Four-petaled white flowers in spring.

Bulgaria: Rose (Rosa). More fragrant on sunny days.

Cambodia: Rumdul (Mitrella mesnyi). Prominent evening fragrance.

Canada: Maple leaf (Acer saccarum). National tree.

China: Plum blossom (Prunus mei). Earliest blooms of spring.

Columbia: Christmas orchid (Cattleya trianae). Fetid smell.

Cuba: Butterfly jasmine (Mariposa Cyprus). Endemic jasmine species.

Denmark: Marguerite daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens). Prolific summer bloomer.

Egypt: White Egyptian lotus (Nymphaea lotus). Simultaneous fruiting and flowering.

Ethiopia: Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica). Solitary and showy spiral.

France: Iris (Iris). Three petals and sepals.

French Polynesia: Tiare (Gardenia taitensis). Tiare apetahi is the emblem for Raiatea.

Greece: Bear's breech (Acanthus mollis). Used fresh or dried.

Guam: Puti tai nobiu (Bougainvillea spectabilis). Bougainvillea.

Guatemala: White nun orchid (Lycaste skinnerialba). Symbol of peace, beauty and art.

The Netherlands: Tulip (Tulipa). Bulbs are even used in cooking.

Honduras: Orchid (Brassavola digbiana). Replaced rose as national flower in 1969.

Hong Kong: Hong Kong orchid tree (Bauhinia blakeana). Evergreen.

Hungary: Tulip (Tulipa). Lily family.

Iceland: Mountain avens (Dryas octopetala). Eight creamy white petals.

India: Lotus (Lotus nelumbo). Aquatic perennial.

Indonesia: Bunga melati (Jasminum sambac), bunga anggrek bulan (Phalaenopsis amabilis) and bunga bangkai (Rafflesia arnoldi Indonesia). Adopted three flowers on June 5, 1990, to mark World Environment Day.

Iran: Red rose (Rosa).

Iraq: Rose (Rosa).

Ireland: Shamrock (Trifolium). Trifoliate leaves.

Japan: Chrysanthemum (Imperial) and cherry blossom (sakura). Both are unofficial.

Jordan: Black iris (Iris nigricans). Very dark purple.

Laos: Dok champa. Plumeria.

Latvia: Oxeye daisy (Leucanthe-mum vulgare). Common in America.

Libya: Pomegranate blossom (Punica granatum). Fiery orange-red color.

Madagascar: Royal poinciana (Delonix regia). Voluminous flame-red blooms.

Malaysia: Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis). Locally called bunga raya.

Marianas: Flores mayo (Plumeria acuminata). Adopted March 13, 1979.

Mexico: Dahlia (Dahlia pinnata). Short growth habit.

Myanmar: Paduak (Pterocarpus indicus). Symbol of youth, love and romance.

Nepal: Rhododendron (Rhododendron arboreum). Pink, white or purple.

New Zealand: Kowhai (Sophora microphylla). Early spring golden flowers.

North Korea: Azalea (Jindallae). Symbol of patience.

Pakistan: Jasmine (Jasminum officinale). Used in perfume.

Peru: Kantuta (Cantua buxifolia). Inca magic flower.

Philippines: Sampaguita (Jasminum sambac). Adopted Feb. 1, 1934.

Poland: Corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas). Cultivated and wild.

Portugal: Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Potency increases with drying.

Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico hibiscus (Montezuma speciossisima). Flor de maga.

Russia: Chamomile (Matricaria recutita). Fruity, floral aromatic.

Singapore: Miss Joaquim orchid. Cross between Vanda teres and Vanda hookeriana.

South Africa: King protea (Protea cynaroides). Cape Town origin.

South Korea: Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus). Attracts hummingbirds.

Sweden: Linnea (Linnea borealis). Fragrant, pink and bell-like.

Taiwan: Plum blossom (Prunus mei). Adopted July 21, 1964.

Thailand: Ratchaphruek (Cassia fistula linn). Golden yellow color of Buddhism and glory.

Tonga: Red-blossomed heilala (Garcinia pseudoguttifera). Celebrated every July 4.

Turkey: Tulip (Tulipa). Cultivated from 1000 AD.

United Kingdom: Tudor rose (Rosa). Design of King Henry VII.

Vietnam: Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera). Symbol of purity and future optimism.

Yemen: Arabian coffee (Coffea arabica). White, waxy and fragrant.

Yugoslavia: Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis). Fragrant and bell-shaped.

Zimbabwe: Flame lily (Gloriosa rothschildiana). Large, claw-shaped.