] Culpeper's nerbal (and many others I might add) were stil being published at about this time- the last Culpeper before the 20th century was 1813, IIRC, and his remedies and lore still in general circulation. So yes, The fact that flowers have poetic, and apothercarial meanings is quite valid. ...

While no symbolic meaning is mentioned , we are informed that there are many species of Hyacinths,that they are called Harebells and Bluebells. The most beautiful(8)are described, and Culpeper has got this to say on Government and Virtues:

The root is full of a slimy juice, a decoction of which operates by urine.(How romantic eh?) Dried and reduced to powder, it is of balsamic and styptic nature. Its virtues are little known, it will cure the whites(??). The fresh root is poisonous, and may be made into starch.(My inadequate memory be d---d. Why were we once so interested in starch, Caroline?)

And what is understood by The Whites? Based on the styptic quality my wild guess is it has to do with (sorry folks)pus(which would be amazing since the white bloodcells form part of pus, don't they).

I'll have a look at roses now.