#ffxv's bday flower is cute - Cuphea (“magnificent admirable”)

[flowers-of-tenebrae]

I wanted include Luna's! (Hope you don't mind op.)

I had to do some sleuthing to figure out which Begonia species (in English) the Japanese flowering website had listed for Sept 4. [See: 1, 2, 3] The hardy begonia is my best guess, but I could be off. The flower they specified is "木立ベゴニア" if anyone wants a gander.

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Lunafreya Nox Fleuret (September 4)

Hardy begonia (Begonia grandis) [x]

(image credit: Alpsdake via Wikipedia Commons)

A member of the Begoniaceae (begonia) family and native to China and Japan. This perennial species is notable for its decorative pink or white blooms and its ability to grow in shade, capable of surviving winter in certain regions. Its species name (grandis) means large, tall or lofty. These plants can grow up to 1 ft. 6 in - 3 ft. tall (50-90cm). [See: 1, 2]

Hanakotoba: Good balance or equilibrium.

Birthday Flowers of FFXV: The Chocobros

(according to 季節の花300, a Japanese flower website) [x]

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Ignis Scientia (February 7)

Thunberg fritillary (Fritillaria thunbergii, previously Fritillaria verticillata var. thunbergii) [x]

(image credit: titanium22 on Flickr via Wikimedia Commons)

A member of the Liliaceae (lily) family native to Central Asia. The bulb of this flower 浙貝母 (zhè bèi mǔ) is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to relieve coughs and reduce phlegm, among other indications.

Hanakotoba (Japanese flower language): A modest heart.

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Gladiolus Amicitia (April 2)

Reeves' spiraea (Spiraea cantoniensis) [x]

(image credit: KENPEI via Wikimedia Commons)

A member of the Rosaceae (rose) family native to China. Known as ko-demari (小手毬) in Japanese as its clusters of small flowers look like the patterns on temari, children's handball toys that are also symbols of great loyalty and friendship.

Hanakotoba: Friendship. (You know what else means "friendship?" Gladio's last name.)

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Noctis Lucis Caelum (August 30)

Tiger lily (specifically Lilium lancifolium) [x]

(image credit: Maja Dumat via Wikimedia Commons)

A member of the Liliaceae (lily) family native to China, Japan, Korea, and the Russian Far East. The species name, lancifolium, refers to its leaves looking like polearms (i.e. lances). Its showy black-spotted orange flowers have made it a popular ornamental plant.

Hanakotoba: A wise person.

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Prompto Argentum (October 25)

African milkweed (Gomphocarpus fruticosus) flower [x]

(image credit: Bernard Dupont via Wikimedia Commons)

A member of the Apocynaceae (dogbane) family. Native to eastern and southern Africa, the plant is also found in Australia and New Zealand, where it is known as narrow-leaved cotton bush. Its thorny fruit pops when mature in late fall, producing cotton-like seeds.

Hanakotoba: A hidden ability. (I see what you did there, Square Enix!)