Each variety of flower, according to the Mother, has its own special quality and meaning. During her lifetime she gave names or significances to 898 flowers. In this book these flowers, with their significances, are arranged thematically in twelve chapters. In each chapter flowers of related significance are grouped together and placed in a sequence that develops the chapter's theme. Brief quotations from the works of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother accompany many significances as an aid to understanding them. 630 colour photographs help to identify the flowers and reveal their beauty. A separately bound reference volume contains indexes, glossaries, descriptions of the flowers and botanical information on them.

PART 1. TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHS

The 324-page text of Part 1 is arranged thematically on the basis of the Mother's flower-significances. In each of the twelve chapters, flowers of related significance are grouped together; these groups are then placed in a sequence that develops the theme of the chapter.
For each of the 898 flowers, the Mother's significance is given, her comment on the significance, the botanical name of the flower, and its colour or colours. Quotations from the works of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother accompany many significances as an aid to understanding them. 630 colour photographs help to identify the flowers and bring out their beauty.

PART 2. INDEXES, GLOSSARIES AND DESCRIPTIONS

The second part is a 138-page reference volume containing indexes, glossaries, descriptions of the flowers and other information. The three indexes make it possible to locate the flowers in Part 1 by the Mother's significance, the botanical name and the common name. The two glossaries – one of botanical terms, the other of philosophical and psychological terms – define the technical terms in the book. The largest section, "Descriptions of the Flowers", provides detailed descriptions and full botanical information about the flowers. There is also a note on the symbolism of colours.

THE ORIGIN OF THE SIGNIFICANCES

Mother, when flowers are brought to you, how do you give them a significance?

By entering into contact with the nature of the flower, its inner truth. Then one knows what it represents.

There is a mental projection when one gives a precise significance to a flower. . . . A flower does not have the equivalent of a mental consciousness. . . . It is rather like the movement of a little baby, neither a sensation nor a feeling, but something of both; it is a spontaneous movement, a very special vibration. Well, if one is in contact with this vibration, if one feels it, one receives an impression which may be translated by a thought. This is how I give a significance to flowers and plants. There is a kind of identification with the vibration, a perception of the quality it represents.