National Seal

The national seal contains the dates of April 19, 1810 (Declaration of Independence; the actual signing took place on July 5th) and February 20, 1859 (Federation war).

The body of the shield consists of three quarters with the colors of the flag. First of red color and with a handful of 20 yellow ears, that symbolize the Earth wealth and the union of the states. The second of yellow color with flags of Venezuela and swords united by a laurel crown, symbolizes the triumph in the struggle for Independence. Third of blue color with a gallopping white horse, emblem of the freedom. This Emblem was altered in april 2006 to reflect some changes such as the the horse gallopping to the left.

Then national flag was created by Francisco de Miranda, who used it in its first expedition, when trying to make Venezuela independent from Spain in the early 1800's. It is said that yellow symbolizes the gold of the country, with the National Emblem displayed on the left hand corner ; blue the sea that separates Venezuela from Spain and red for the blood that spilled to gain independece. The eight stars, correspond to the seven provinces that the country had when it became independent and the province of Guayana, added to the flag in April 2006.

National Flag

The Turpial is the national bird of Venezuela. It is black and yellow with a long white streak across the wings (which are black).

The Venezuelan Orchid is native of the coastal mountain range . It was declared National Flower on the 23 of May of 1951, after an exhaustive investigation by the Venezuelan Society of Natural Sciences. It is popularly known as the "Flower of May" because in the XIXst century towns used it to adorn the "Crucifix of May". Its scientific name Cattleya remembers William Cattley, who in 1818 cultivated the first bulbs of this plant in England, from species sent from Brazil .

This impressive plant of the Bignoneaceae family was decreed as Venezuela's national tree species in 1948. The name is of indigenous origin (Caribbean) and it describes several species of the Genus Tabebuia, among which chrisantha is taken as the main species.

It is a tree of medium size whose trunk can grow straight or bent, in dry tropical forests, in the borders of savannas, in valleys or arid hills, up to an altitude of 1.200 meters. It is distinguished by a massive yellow glowing bloom.