Carnations have a long history of use by humans, having been cultivated for more than 2,000 years. The flowering plants are native to the Mediterranean and were remarked upon by the ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus (371-286 BC), whose works on botany were foundational to the field. The earliest carnations were single-flowered and a fleshy pink, and from this variety all others were derived. Carnations are now available in most every color imaginable and a wide array of sizes. They are one of the most popular cut flowers and are widely utilized on special occasions, such as weddings and Mother’s Day. Symbolic meaning is often ascribed to the specific color of carnation given or worn on these occasions. For instance, red carnations are commonly associated with passionate love, while pink carnations are generally considered symbolic of the kind of love present between a mother and her child.