Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are a genus (Chrysanthemum) of about 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to Asia and northeastern Europe. * The chrysanthemum is one of the "Four Gentlemen" (四君子) of China (the others being the plum blossom, the orchid, and bamboo). The chrysanthemum is said to have been favored by Tao Qian, an influential Chinese poet, and is symbolic of nobleness. It is also one of the 4 symbolic seasonal flowers. * A Chrysanthemum Festival is held each year in Tongxiang, near Hangzhou, China.[8] * Chrysanthemums are the topic in hundreds of poems of China. [9] * The "golden flower" referred to in the 2006 movie Curse of the Golden Flower is a chrysanthemum.