The influence of floral morphology on the perception of the flowers by man

Human preference of flowers is a largely unexplored area of research. Although some authors mentioned this topic, it was usually a very brief comment. They typically stated that flowers are most likely preferred because of their coloration and symmetry. But flowers have many forms and colors and it is obvious that some of them are preferred more than others. The aim of this paper was to explore which morphological characteristics of flowers are important for human preference. We discuss how individual differences between people affected their rating of flower attractivity. The effect of flower color, symmetry, complexity, angularity and prototypicality on human preference was experimentally verified. It is described how the flower preference can be influenced by the sex, age, level of expertise and other characteristics of the raters. The results can provide a valuable source of information for experts in horticultural therapy, garden and interior designers, plant breeders, gardeners and other persons interested in the aesthetic value of flowers. There is a lack of relevant sources on this topic not only in the Czech Republic, but also worldwide