Nerium oleander

Scientific description

Scientific name: Nerium oleander
Kingdom: Plants (Plantae)
Syntax: Magnoliophyta
Order: Dicotyledons, Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Nerium
Species: Nerium oleander

Origin:
From the Mediterranean to western China.

Description:
Evergreen shrub up to 5 m, with toxic parts. Lanceolate, leathery leaves; single pink-red flowers. Cultivated varieties may have white, yellow, purple, or double flowers. Toxicity is due to nerine, protecting the plant from animals.

Ecology:
Native to Greece and many other regions. Prefers sunny, moist soils like riverbanks at low altitude, tolerates slightly brackish and semi-arid soils.

Propagation:
By seed or cuttings from semi-woody shoots in spring.

Use:
Horticultural uses: gardens, parks, pots, planters, borders, road islands, slope stabilization, pavements, fences. In Greece, branches are used to make wreaths for monuments to heroes.

Creative writing inspired by Nerium oleander

Nerium oleander

Once, in a distant land of Ancient Greece, there lived a beautiful nymph named Nerion. She was known not only for her unmatched beauty but also for her independence and untamable nature. Neither mortal nor god could conquer her, for she preferred to live freely among the forests and rivers, enjoying the peace of nature.

A young hero named Oleander, captivated by the tales of her extraordinary beauty, set out to find her. He was determined to win her over with his bravery and nobility. When he finally found her by a crystal-clear lake, he was so struck by her beauty that he immediately fell in love.

However, Nerion had received many such proposals before and did not wish to be bound. Though she appreciated Oleander's courage, she refused his love. But Oleander was unwilling to let her go and began chasing her from village to village, from river to river.

Exhausted from the pursuit and seeking to escape Oleander's relentless love, Nerion prayed to the goddess Artemis. She begged to be freed and hidden from the unrequited love of Oleander. Artemis, moved by her distress, transformed her into a tall, strong plant with long, slender leaves and beautiful flowers that would bloom all year by the water's edge.

When Oleander arrived at the place where he had last seen Nerion, he found only this plant. Kneeling in despair, he realized that he had lost his beloved forever. From that moment on, the plant was called "Nerium Oleander" in honor of both Nerion, who became a symbol of freedom and beauty, and Oleander, the hero who loved her deeply but could never win her over.

The Oleander, as the plant later became known, symbolizes unattainable love and the sacrifice for freedom, with its beautiful flowers representing the sweetness of beauty but also the bitter truth of the inability to possess it.

Νήριον — Πικροδάφνη

Κάποτε, σε έναν μακρινό τόπο της Αρχαίας Ελλάδας, ζούσε μια πανέμορφη νύμφη που την έλεγαν Νήριον. Ήταν γνωστή για τη μοναδική της ομορφιά, αλλά και για την ανεξαρτησία και την αδάμαστη φύση της. Κανένας θνητός ή θεός δεν μπορούσε να την κατακτήσει, καθώς προτιμούσε να ζει ελεύθερη μέσα στα δάση και κοντά στα ποτάμια, απολαμβάνοντας τη γαλήνη της φύσης.

Ένας νεαρός ήρωας, ο Ολέανδρος, γοητευμένος από τις ιστορίες για την εξωπραγματική ομορφιά της, ξεκίνησε να την αναζητήσει. Ήταν αποφασισμένος να την κερδίσει με τη γενναιότητα και την ευγένειά του. Όταν τελικά τη συνάντησε κοντά σε μια κρυστάλλινη λίμνη, εντυπωσιάστηκε τόσο πολύ από την ομορφιά της που την ερωτεύτηκε αμέσως.

Η Νήριον, όμως, είχε δεχθεί πολλές φορές τέτοιες προτάσεις και δεν ήθελε να δεσμευτεί. Παρότι εκτίμησε τη γενναιότητα του Ολέανδρου, αρνήθηκε την αγάπη του. Ο νεαρός όμως δεν ήθελε να την αφήσει να φύγει και άρχισε να την κυνηγάει από χωριό σε χωριό, ποτάμι σε ποτάμι.

Η Νήριον, κουρασμένη από την καταδίωξη και για να γλιτώσει από την επίμονη αγάπη του Ολέανδρου, προσευχήθηκε στη θεά Άρτεμη. Ζήτησε να την ελευθερώσει και να την κρύψει από τον ανεκπλήρωτο έρωτα του Ολέανδρου. Η Άρτεμη, λυπημένη από την αγωνία της, την μεταμόρφωσε σε ένα ψηλό, δυνατό φυτό με μακριά, στενά φύλλα και όμορφα λουλούδια που άνθιζαν όλο τον χρόνο δίπλα στο νερό.

Όταν ο Ολέανδρος έφτασε εκεί όπου είχε δει για τελευταία φορά τη Νήριον, βρήκε μόνο αυτό το φυτό. Γονατίζοντας από απελπισία, κατάλαβε πως είχε χάσει την αγαπημένη του για πάντα. Από τότε, το φυτό ονομάστηκε "Νήριον το Ολέανδρον" προς τιμήν και των δύο: της Νήριον, που έγινε σύμβολο ελευθερίας και ομορφιάς, και του Ολέανδρου, του ήρωα που την αγάπησε βαθιά αλλά ποτέ δεν κατάφερε να την κατακτήσει.

Η Πικροδάφνη, όπως ονομάστηκε αργότερα το φυτό, συμβολίζει τον ακατάληπτο έρωτα και τη θυσία για την ελευθερία, με τα όμορφα άνθη της να θυμίζουν τη γλυκύτητα της ομορφιάς, αλλά και την πικρή αλήθεια της αδυναμίας να την κρατήσεις.

Nerium oleander

Il était une fois, dans un pays lointain de la Grèce antique, il vivait une belle nymphe nommée Nerion. Elle était connue non seulement pour sa beauté inégalée, mais aussi pour son indépendance et sa nature indomptable. Ni mortel ni dieu ne pouvait la conquérir, car elle préférait vivre librement parmi les forêts et les rivières, jouissant de la paix de la nature.

Un jeune héros nommé Oleander, captivé par les contes de sa beauté extraordinaire, a entrepris de la trouver. Il était déterminé à la conquérir par sa bravoure et sa noblesse. Quand il l’a finalement trouvé près d’un lac cristallin, il a été tellement frappé par sa beauté qu’il est immédiatement tombé amoureux.

Cependant, Nerion avait déjà reçu de nombreuses propositions de ce genre et ne souhaitait pas être liée. Bien qu’elle appréciait le courage d’Oleander, elle refusa son amour. Mais Oleander ne voulait pas la laisser partir et a commencé à la poursuivre de village en village, de rivière en rivière.

Épuisé par la poursuite et cherchant à échapper à l’amour implacable d’Oleander, Nerion a prié la déesse Artemis. Elle a supplié d’être libérée et cachée de l’amour non partagé d’Oleander. Artemis, émue par sa détresse, la transforma en une plante haute et forte avec de longues feuilles fines et de belles fleurs qui fleurissent toute l’année au bord de l’eau.

Lorsque Oleander arriva à l’endroit où il avait vu Nerion pour la dernière fois, il ne trouva que cette plante. Agenouillé dans le désespoir, il se rendit compte qu’il avait perdu sa bien-aimée pour toujours. À partir de ce moment-là, la plante s’est appelée "Nerium Oleander" en l’honneur de Nerion, symbole de liberté et de beauté, et d’Oleander, le héros qui l’aimait profondément mais ne pouvait jamais la conquérir.

L’Oléandre, comme la plante devint plus tard connue, symbolise l’amour inaccessible et le sacrifice pour la liberté, avec ses belles fleurs représentant la douceur de la beauté mais aussi l’amère vérité de l’incapacité à la posséder.

Nerium oleander

Odată, într-un ținut îndepărtat al Greciei Antice, trăia o frumoasă nimfă pe nume Nerion. Era cunoscută nu doar pentru frumusețea ei de neegalat, ci și pentru independența și natura ei de neîmblânzit. Nici muritorii, nici zeii nu o puteau cuceri, căci prefera să trăiască liberă printre păduri și râuri, bucurându-se de pacea naturii.

Un tânăr erou pe nume Oleandru, captivat de poveștile despre frumusețea ei extraordinară, a pornit în căutarea ei. Era hotărât să o cucerească prin curajul și noblețea sa. Când a găsit-o în sfârșit lângă un lac cristalin, a fost atât de impresionat de frumusețea ei încât s-a îndrăgostit imediat.

Cu toate acestea, Nerion primise multe astfel de propuneri înainte și nu a vrut să fie legată. Deși aprecia curajul lui Oleandru, ea i-a refuzat dragostea. Dar Oleandru nu a vrut să o lase să plece și a început să o urmărească din sat în sat, din râu în râu.

Epuizată de urmărire și căutând să scape de dragostea neobosită a lui Oleandru, Nerion s-a rugat zeiței Artemis. Ea a implorat să fie eliberată și ascunsă de dragostea neîmpărtășită a lui Oleandru. Artemis, mișcată de suferința ei, a transformat-o într-o plantă înaltă și puternică, cu frunze lungi și subțiri și flori frumoase, care aveau să înflorească tot anul la malul apei.

Când Oleandrul a ajuns în locul unde o văzuse ultima dată pe Nerion, a găsit doar această plantă. Îngenunchind disperat, și-a dat seama că și-a pierdut iubita pentru totdeauna. Din acel moment, planta a fost numită „Nerium Oleander” în onoarea lui Nerion, simbol al libertății și frumuseții, și a lui Oleandrul, eroul care a iubit-o profund dar nu a putut să o cucerească.

Oleandrul, așa cum a devenit cunoscut mai târziu, simbolizează dragostea inaccesibilă și sacrificiul pentru libertate, florile sale frumoase reprezentând dulceața frumuseții, dar și adevărul amar al imposibilității de a o poseda.

3D Interactive View

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Nerium oleander

Scientific description

Creative writing inspired by Nerium oleander

3D Interactive View

Authentic Specimen

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