Official Signs of Tennessee
Though most Tennesseans would contend that their blood runs big orange, the color orange is nowhere to be found in the most “official” colors of Tennessee. The Tennessee State Seal is largely neutral colors with just a little green and blue and the State of Tennessee Tartan is a plaid pattern of white, dark green, purple, red and dark blue. All of the colors of the tartan are symbolic, with dark green representing agriculture, purple representing the state’s flower, the iris. Blue is representative of the mountains, with red being for the sacrifice of Tennessee soldiers, and white showing the unity of the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee.
While many Tennesseans are aware that the state flower is the iris, there are many lesser know symbols of the Volunteer State. In addition to the iris, Tennessee also has two official wildflowers, the Passion Flower and the Tennessee Cone flower. The Passion Flower has long been associated as a symbol of the crucifixion and the Tennessee Cone flower, previously though to be extinct, was added in 2012. Tennessee also has three insects that are official representatives of the state, the firefly and the ladybug are the state insects and the honeybee, which is an important part of the state’s agricultural prosperity, was added to the list as the official agricultural insect in 1990. Although it is native to most of the United States, Tennessee claims the Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly as the State Butterfly.
Of course, all things official in Tennessee are not living, as is attested by the next group of Tennessee “officials”. Though still lovely, Tennessee River Pearls, which were once found in abundance, are now scarce. Considered some of the most beautiful and desirable pearls in the world, the construction of dams across the state impacted the shoals of the mussels that produce the treasure. Unlike the Tennessee River Pearl, which is the state’s official gem, the Official State Rock, Limestone, is easily found across the state. Limestone replaced Agate as the state rock when Agate was reclassified as the State Mineral. Perhaps the most unknown state “official” is the Tennessee State Fossil. Pterotrigonia, a shallow burrowing suspension feeder that was found on the ocean floor 70 million years ago, has the distinction of being the State Fossil. Though Tennessee currently sits hundreds of miles from the coast, the Pterotrigonia fossil is found in West Tennessee, where the ocean existed pre dinosaur extinction.
While some of the “officials” in Tennessee are not living, it may be the living, breathing “officials” that the state is best known for and nothing represents the lakes and rivers of Tennessee like the Official State Sport Fish, the Smallmouth Bass. Of course, as commercial fishing goes, the Channel Catfish is the Official Commercial Fish and it is often stocked in commercial ponds, sometimes sharing a space with the Official Reptile of Tennessee, the Eastern Box Turtle and the Official Amphibian the Tennessee Cave Salamander. Most know that the state bird is the Mocking Bird, but sportsmen should also be aware that the Bobtail Quail is the Official Game Bird for the state.
The Eastern Red Cedar is a sacred tree of the Cherokee and it has been designated the Official Evergreen Tree of Tennessee, and the lovely and widespread Tulip Popular Tree has been the State Tree of Tennessee since 1947. Neighboring Kentucky is also know for its lovely foliage and fine horses but the Tennessee Walking Horse has the distinction of being the Official Tennessee Horse. For those that like their animals a little smaller and furrier, the Raccoon has the honor of being the Official State Animal.
With the many divisions of state “official” designations, it would be remiss to leave out two tasty treats that are widely associated with the great State of Tennessee. While orange will also be a color of choice for die hard Volunteer fans, Tennesseans like our tomatoes ripe, red and homegrown which is why the Tomato is the Official State Fruit. And, it may come as a surprise to some that milk, not moonshine, is the beverage of choice and the reigning Official Beverage of the State of Tennessee.
