The national flower is theorchidCattleya mossiae, known asflor de Mayo ("May flower"). It was first discovered in the northern land in 1849 and was given the status ofnational flower on 23 May 1951.
The national tree is thearaguaney(Tabebuia chrysantha). Calledaravanei by theCaribes, it can be found mostly in regions withtemperate weather. It can reach a height between 6 and 12 m. The araguaney flourishes within the period following a rainy season, mostly in the first months of the year.Rómulo Gallegos referred to these months as "La primavera de oro de los araguaneyes" ("the golden spring of the araguaneyes"). It was declared thenational tree on 29 May 1945.
The national bird is theVenezuelan troupial (Icterus icterus). It is fully yellow-orange except on the head and the wings, which are black and white; a blue spot surrounds the eyes. It can be found inwoods, theLlanos, the shores ofjungles, and northern and southernOrinoco.
