Te butterfly is also known as “amber cane” and its scientific name is Hedychium Coronarium Koenig, from the family of te Zigniberaceas (alpinaceas). Its name comes from its similitude with the lepidopterous insect. It is not originally from Cuba but form Asia, and it has adapted wonderfully to the Cuban ground where we can see it near the rivers and gutters.

On October 13th, 1936, the butterfly was selected to be the National Flower of Cuba, because its whiteness represents the purity of the ideals of independence, it symbolizes peace, it is an element present in the fringes of our national insignia, as well as the way its flower are joint to the central stem represents the union of the Cuban people. It is told that during the independence war, women hid messages for the Cuban Army.