Do you know South Carolina's official state symbols?
Do you know South Carolina's official state symbols?
Each state in America boasts its own culture, history, and natural beauty. To represent such diversity, people from these states have chosen their own set of symbols and customs. Specific flags, songs, mottos, flowers, and even fruits commemorate the uniqueness of individual states. Some of these symbols border on the bizarre: Texas, for example, has made the Dutch oven its official state cooking pot. Other symbols are more universal, like state birds.
Many people remember learning about their states' history back in elementary school. But can you still remember your state bird? How about your state flower? To test your state knowledge, Stacker compiled a list of symbols in South Carolina.
Clue: South Carolina state fish
Clue: Big and aggressive, sport fishermen prize this fish for not just its size, but the fight it puts up once hooked. The state's Santee Cooper Lakes are this breed's original habitat, and South Carolina is still known as the premier destination to catch them.
Answer: South Carolina state fish
Answer: Striped bass
Clue: South Carolina state mammal
South Carolina has a number of officially recognized mammals: the white-tailed deer, the right whale, and an official state dog, among others. Its official marine mammal is probably the most well known and beloved of them all. This beaked cetacean has a sophisticated system of communication with squeaks, clicks, and whistles and breathes through a blowhole on top of its head.
Answer: South Carolina state mammal
- State mammals: White-tailed deer, bottlenose dolphin, right whale
Clue: South Carolina state song
The South Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution campaigned for the state song to be based on words written by famous state poet Henry Timrod. In 1984, the state adopted a second song, this one written by South Carolina natives Buzz Arledge and Hank Martin.
Answer: South Carolina state song
- Answer: "Carolina," "South Carolina on My Mind"
Clue: South Carolina state insect
State insect: This species has earthy brown, grey, or green tones, which it employs as camouflage. An individual’s color often changes many times throughout its life, as it can adjust its tone each time it molts to match its environment.
State butterfly: This insect’s range stretches from Vermont down to Florida laterally down the east coast, and longitudinally from the east to the Great Plains states. A single specimen was found in Ireland in the early 20th century, believed to be an accidental introduction from North America.
Answer: South Carolina state insect
- State insect: Carolina mantis (Stagmomantis carolina)
- State butterfly: Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
Clue: South Carolina state tree
South Carolina’s state tree isn’t a maple, an oak, or even a pine—it’s a palm. This palm tree is featured on South Carolina’s state flag as well as on the Great Seal of another state which shares this symbol, and is commonly used as a street plant and landscape ornamental, especially in coastal regions, where plots help the land resist hurricane damage.
Answer: South Carolina state tree
Answer: Sabal palm (Sabal palmetto)
Clue: South Carolina state bird
This tiny bird is named for its state, making it a perfect choice for the honor. It is so well-loved that intentionally killing one of these birds is punishable by a fine and jail time.
Answer: South Carolina state bird
Answer: Carolina wren
Clue: South Carolina state flower
"Its delicate flower suggests the pureness of gold; its perpetual return out of the dead Winter suggests the lesson of constancy in, loyalty to, and patriotism in the service of the State,” said the South Carolina legislature of this state's flower. Despite its “pureness,” this flower is actually quite poisonous. Its yellow color has attracted bees, but has consequently killed off entire hives.
Answer: South Carolina state flower
Answer: Yellow jessamine
