Flowers mentioned in the Old Testament have often been used as images of Jesus. “Lily of the valley” and ”the rose of Sharon” come to mind. I haven’t done an in depth study on seeing Christ in the flora of the Bible. But I’m sure it would be interesting. Below is a poem I wrote about 20 years ago in which I see the cross in a flower.

Desert Flower 

A stigma marks its center. 

Tipped by piercing red, 
each petal is stretched 
in the agony of full-bloom. 

Dew rolls off 
into empty space, 
like sweat 
or a tear-drop, 
and splashes 
on the stony, 
bony ground. 

Impaled on its own stem, 
it arches like a man on the rack 
and shudders in the sun 

forsaken.