The honour of being chosen as our national flower goes to a
wild, forest flower called the Chaconia, also known as the "Pride of Trinidad
and Tobago" and "Wild Poinsettia." The Chaconia is an indigenous flower
known by its long
sprays of magnificent vermillion. Coincidentally, this flower blooms on
every anniversary of our
Independence Day (August
31, 1962). For us, the Chaconia represents the imperishability of life
and the continuity of our nation.
The Chaconia belongs to the family
Rubiaceae and
owes its botanical name, Warszewiczia Coccinea to the
Polish-Lithuanian plant collector, Joseph Warszewicz. The title "Chaconia"
was given to it in
honour of the last Spanish Governor of Trinidad, Don Jose Maria Chacon
(1784-1797).
