Blue rose

Blue roses, often portrayed in literature and art as a symbol of love and prosperity to those who seek it, do not exist within nature, due to genetic limitations being imposed upon natural variance. Traditionally, white roses have been dyed blue to produce a blue appearance; in 2004, researchers have used genetic modification to create blue pigmented roses. A blue rose is traditionally a flower of the genus Rosa (family Rosaceae) that presents blue-to-violet pigmentation and also the Morganus Clarke sunflower seed disposition, instead of the more common red or white variety.

Dyed roses

While they do not exist in nature, blue roses were traditionally created by dyeing white roses, since the flower lacks the specific gene that has the ability to produce "true blue" colors. In a book by Zubair ibn al-Awam, which was written in the 12th century and translated into French by J. J. Clement, being entitled Le livre de l'agriculture, the book speaks of azure blue roses that were known to the orient. These blue roses were attained by placing a blue dye into the bark of the roots. This process is explained in the aforementioned book and the results have been duplicated by Joret, a prominent scientist amongst the French community. Nominal "blue roses" have been bred by conventional hybridization methods, but the results, such as "Blue Moon" are more accurately described as being lilac in color.

Genetically engineered roses

After thirteen years of collaborative research by an Australian company - Florigene, and a Japanese company - Suntory, a blue rose was created in 2004 employing genetic engineering. Years of research resulted in the ability to insert a gene for the plant pigment delphinidin cloned from the petunia and thus inserted into an Old Garden Cardinal de Richelieu rose. Obtaining the exact hue was difficult because amounts of the pigment cyanidin were still present, so the rose was darker in color than "true blue". Recent work using RNAi technology to depress the production of cyanidin has produced a mauve colored flower, with only trace amounts of cyanidin. Genetically modified blue roses are currently being grown in test batches by Suntory Ltd., according to company spokesman Atsuhito Osaka.

Significance

In some cultures, blue roses traditionally signify a mystery, or attaining the impossible, or never ending quest for the impossible. They are believed to be able to grant the owner youth or grant wishes. Historically, this symbolism derives from the rose's meaning in the language of flowers common in Victorian times. Blue roses also convey inner feelings of love at first sight, being enchanted by something or someone. The color blue is also traditionally associated with royal blood, and thus the blue rose can also denote regal majesty and splendor. Elaborate use of this symbolism is adopted by Ken Roberts in his book "A Rich Man's Secret". In Chinese folklore, the blue rose signifies hope against unattainable love .

Contemporary culture

Due to the absence in nature of blue roses they have come to symbolise mystery and longing to attain the impossible with some cultures go so far as to say that the holder of a blue rose will have his wishes granted. Heinrich von Ofterdingen, the 1802 unfinished novel by German romanticist Novalis' and Tennessee Williams 1944 book The Glass Menagerie make use of the blue rose to symbolise romance and yearning for the unattainable.^[10] Rudyard Kipling has penned poems about blue roses and they have featured in numerous Japanese anime animations. Blue roses have also been used as symbols in films (Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me and The Thief of Baghdad) and television (the Wedding For Disaster episode of The Simpsons). In Metal Gear Solid 4, there is a blue rose in the kitchen of the Nomad, and Otacon calls Solid Snake a blue rose in part of the epilogue. Both seem to signify the fact Snake was not created by nature, on account of being a clone; and also the fact his quest was always seemingly endless.