TWE155 Plants are vital to the survival of all life on Earth for their main feature: they continuously provide oxygen through photosynthesis process. Besides, they are essential suppliers of food, shelter and medicine. The removal and extinction of any species of plant will cause unforeseeable disaster to the ecosystem. However, some plants are especially important to the people of certain countries and regions. To me as well as to every resident in Shanghai, Yulan Magnolia, the city flower of Shanghai, is the most important plant not only for its economical value but also for the spiritual and cultural value it embodies.
Firstly, Yulan Magnolia is the most valuable among all magnolia families. Its blossoms are the most fragrant and its petals and leaves contain more medicinal plant oil than any other magnolias, which is the essential raw material and additive for bath soup, perfume, balm and shampoo. In addition, constant drinking of the flower teas made of Yulan Magnolia petals can both improve one’s health and make one’s facial skin glossy. In addition to all these virtues, it can be cultivated in most soil types. Except for extreme drought, it does not require supplemental watering.
Secondly, Yulan Magnolia is a major ornamental plant in Shanghai, China. It is common scenery along the streets and in the parks. In the cold early spring, when the cold and chilly wind still blows and other leaves and blossoms of other plants have not come up yet, it has covered itself with huge creamy white flowers before the buds emerge. All spectacular blossoms are fragrant and hold upright on the stems. It is really a great comfort to see such beautiful flowers in chilly early spring. As a fact of matter, most of Shanghai residents believe that spring doesn’t come until they see Yulan Magnolia is in full bloom. In summer and autumn, the well-trimmed Yulan Magnolia with its dark green leaves displays another gorgeous appearance.
Thirdly, because of its economic and ornamental values, most of people in Shanghai hold special feelings on it and see it as a vivid embodiment of “the spirit of constant advancement and progress”, a spirit that most of the Shanghai-landers value most. It is for this reason that Yulan Magnolia is elected as the city flower of Shanghai. Many prizes are named after it, such as, “Yulan Magnolia Construction Prize” and “Yulan Magnolia Prize for Excellent Teachers”. And “Yulan Magnolia Commemoration Prize” is the highest honor for the foreign professionals, scholars and entrepreneurs who have made their great contributions to the prosperity of Shanghai.
To sum up, Yulan Magnolia is important not only because it is a staple economic and ornamental plants in Shanghai but also because it represents the aspiration for the best and the spirit of fearlessness for hardship. As an indispensable part of the culture, Yulan Magnolia has become the symbol of Shanghai, a city that keeps making progress and improvements.