In Chinese culture, one kind of flower is highly appreciated for its endurance in severe winters. Countless poems and articles have praised the flower's elegance, beauty, and perseverance. What is the plant?  Why can its flower survive and blossom in the cold?  

1. The name of this cold-tolerant plant is Chimonanthus praecox ("wintersweet"). It can easily be mistaken for a plum blossom because of their similar appearance and scent. 

2. The distinction between the petals and sepals in this flower is not very clear. Actually, the flower part of this plant is called tepals. The waxy appearance of the flowers is thought of as one of the reasons for its resistance to the cold.

3. It does not bloom in the coldest period in winter, but either side, in early winter or early spring. Moreover, Chimonanthus praecox is mainly distributed in the southern Yangtze area in China, where the winter is relatively warm.

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