A Greek myth tells of the beautiful youth Adonis, beloved of Aphrodite, who was killed by a wild boar while hunting. A flower growing on the spot where he fell was stained crimson by his blood and was named Adonis aestivalis.

This red, summer annual of the Mediterranean area has a cousin in Japan, a yellow perennial (Adonis amurensis) that blooms in the winter month of February -- fukujuso. It is an auspicious plant for the New Year, one reason being the two kanji characters that make up its name -- fuku for wealth and ju for happiness.

The Ainu also have a name for this flower, kunaw, and a similar legend. According to this, a beautiful young goddess who lived in lower heaven fled from an arranged marriage with the fur-bearing sable, a noble animal-god in higher heaven. The runaway bride was ultimately found by her bridegroom, hiding in a forlorn grass field. Furious, the sable trampled her down, saying: "You shall be punished for your disobedience to your father. I am going to change you into a flower so you shall never return to heaven." And indeed, a lovely flower bloomed there.