Fevrier. Camellia

From Charlotte de La Tour, 'Le langage des fleurs', 12e. édition (Bruxelles: Société Typographique Belge, Adolphe Wahlen et Compagnie, 1842), p. 247.

The language of flowers was a 19th-century code used to make bouquets which passed messages between lovers and suitors. Each flower was given its own meaning and they could be combined to create special messages. The concept was made popular by books which explained these meanings. Charlotte de La Tour's Le langage des fleurs is one example from France. This 1842 publication was originally attributed to Louis-Aimé Martin, but is now generally attributed to Louise Cortambert [Charlotte de Latour]. The Belgian printing may have put Martin's name on the title page from supposition, without his knowledge.