• Egypt is home to different types of flowers.egypt hotel image by Pavel Kuragin from Fotolia.com
  
  Flowers form an integral part of the Egyptian way of life. They were used by pharaohs in the past and presented to gods in religious rituals. Flowers also formed natural decoration and accent pieces. Although Egypt comprises of vast and endless stretches of desert area, it is home to flowers that grow in its rich, fertile soils.
  
  

Chrysanthemum

• Chrysanthemum is a revered flower in Egyptian culture as it was used in mummy dressings and wrappings. Also called mums, these flowers grew abundantly along the fertile Nile Valley of Egypt in the past, and were commonly found in Egyptian tombs from 1986 B.C. to 1739 B.C.
  
  

Papyrus

• Used to symbolize Lower Egypt in the past, the evergreen papyrus is commonly used to make paper, baskets and rope. Fresh papyrus flowers were handed to participants in ancient burial rituals. It features deep roots and tall stems that support the flowers on top.
  
  

Narcissus Flower

• Narcissus is considered an ancient Egyptian flower because remains of bulbs were discovered on the neck of the mummy Ramesses II. It belongs to the family Armaryllidaceae and features a long base, three white petals and sepals and a rounded appendage. These flowers are usually yellow or white. The flower grows 1 to 2 feet high of hexagonal or pentagonal foliage that supports the blooms on top.
  
  

Chickpea

• Native to areas in Upper Egypt, chickpea is a grass-like plant that produces white or red flowers and oval, high-protein fruit commonly used in salads, soups and vegetables dishes.
  
  

Lotus

• Commonly found in the wet regions along the River Nile, lotus or water lily is the current national flower of the country. It adorned the flag of the Egyptian army in the past. Ancient myths suggest that locals would sing for the lotus flower, and a specific day was set aside for the lotus feast. The flower floats on water and comes in a variety of colors including blue, red and white. The stem that holds the lotus upright grows up to 30 cm high, and depending on the variety chosen, the flower spreads 5 to 8 feet wide.