Missouri has now enacted meaningful litigation（诉讼，起诉）reform to address a health care crisis that was driving doctors out of the state at the expense of patients in need of care and significant regulatory reforms that will lower costs for small business owners in our state，giving them the freedom to do what they do best，create jobs and stimulate（刺激）he state’s economy．
Governor Blunt also submitted a balanced budget to the Missouri General Assembly that contains a significant increase in funding for public schools without an increase in existing taxes or the imposition of new taxes on Missouri’s working families．
Governor Blunt married Melanie Anderson Blunt in March 1997．The couple recently welcomed their first child，William Branch Blunt，who was born on March 9，2005．The Blunts attend a Baptist church near their home．Governor Blunt is a member of the American Legion and the Missouri Farm Bureau．
State Bird州鸟
在1927年3月30日，土产的蓝知更鸟成为密苏里州的州鸟。蓝知更鸟被认为是快乐的象征，通常它们能长到6．5—7英寸。它们头部为浅蓝色，胸部为肉桂色。在密苏里州，初春到11月底都可以常常见到此鸟。
On March 30，1927，the native bluebird became the official state bird of Missouri．The bluebird，considered a symbol of happiness，is usually 61／2to 7inches long．While its upper parts are covered with light blue plumage，its breast is cinnamon red（肉桂色），turning rust－colored in the fall．The bluebird is common in Missouri from early spring until late November．
Identification
1．Length：6inches
2．Thin bill
3．Most often seen in open habitats
Adult male
1．Bright blue plumage；brightest on upperparts
2．Lacks any brown coloration
Female
1．Blue wings and tail－duller than male
2．Remainder of plumage gray
3．Eye ring
Juvenile
1．Blue wings and tail－duller than male
2．White eye ring
3．Spotted underparts
State Flower州花
在1923年，3月16日，山栌花（山栌常被称为“红山楂”或“野山楂”）Arthur M．Hyde州长签定一项决议命名白山栌花为密苏里州的州花。山栌花是属蔷薇科，和苹果花相似。山栌花花蕊呈黄绿色，花瓣呈白色。
Hawthorn Blossom（of tree commonly called the “red haw”or “wild haw”）
On March 16，1923，Governor Arthur M．Hyde signed a bill naming the white hawthorn blossom the official state floral emblem of Missouri．Known as the “red haw”or “white haw”，the hawthorn（crateagus）is a member of the great rose family，which resembles（像，类似）the apple group．The hawthorn blossoms have greenish－yellow centers and form in white clusters．More than 75species of the hawthorn grow in Missouri，particularly in the Ozarks．
The genus Crataegus，which includes our two native hawthorns，comprises some 100—200species of deciduous（每年落叶的，非永久性的）trees and shrubs depending upon which botanists（植物学家）you want to believe．Crataegus is part of the rose family，which contains many of our cultivated temperate fruits such as apples，pears，plums（［植］李子），cherries，peaches and apricots（杏，杏树）．Most of the Hawthorns are natives of North America；others are natives of Europe，Asia Minor，China，Japan，the Old World and the Himalayas（喜马拉雅山脉）．Hawthorns are beautiful，flowering trees suitable for shading patios（天井，院子），decorating lawns（草地，草坪）and lining streets．These hard－wooded trees can be grown in exposed locations as well as tolerate city living．Hawthorns begin to bloom［（使）开花，（使）繁盛］two years after planting．Pink，white or red，5－petaled flowers are produced in 2－to 3－inch clusters，in the spring．The blossoms are followed by red，apple－shaped fruits that are less than an inch across．These fruits，called haws，can be used to make jelly（果子冻，一种果冻甜品）or jam（果酱）．They often persist（坚持）on the branches well into the winter．
Leaf：Highly variable，but generally simple，2to 4inches long，alternate，serrate（锯齿状的）and lobed（浅裂的，叶状的），subtending long thorns（［植］刺）．
Fall Color：Although not one of the primary ornamental（装饰性的，装饰用的）features of this hybrid（杂种），leaf coloration coloration（染色，着色）is still quite nice in the fall．Changing from its lustrous（有光泽的）green to a golden yellow，the foliage picks up traces of red，purple，and maroon（栗色）．
Flower：Usually white flowers produced in clusters near the end of the twig，like most members of the family Rosaceae，usually with 5petals．Present in spring，generally May．
Fruit：1／4to 1／2“in diameter，the brilliant red fruit start forming in late September or early October．They cover the tree quite nicely，persisting through the winter months．
Twig：Slender，gray in color，with true terminal buds that are usually dark red．Most species have obvious thorns．Leaf scars contain 3bundle scars．
Bark：The outer bark of this hawthorn is beige－gray，but exfoliates（［植］片状剥落，［地］页状剥落）off in sheets or patches to expose a warm cinnamon underbark．This characteristic will form on branches as they mature．Younger branches are silver－green in color，sparsely（稀疏地，稀少地）bearing 1”thorns．
Form：Generally very dense（密集的，浓厚的）shrubs or small trees．
State Flag州旗
在100多年建立州之后，密苏里州在1913年3月22日采用州旗。此旗是由前州议员R．B．Oliver的妻子Marie Elizabeth Watkins Oliver所设计。此州旗是由红、白和绿色水平长条组成。这象征着英勇、纯洁、警戒和正义。在白色长条的中心是密苏里州的盾徽，盾徽的镶边上有24颗星，象征此州为第24州。
Nearly 100years after achieving statehood，Missouri adopted an official flag on March 22，1913．The flag was designed by the late Mrs．Marie Elizabeth Watkins Oliver，wife of former State Senator R．B．Oliver．The flag consists of three horizontal stripes of red，white and blue．These represent valor（英勇，勇猛），purity，vigilance（警戒，警惕）and justice．In the center white stripe is the Missouri coat－of－arms，circled by a blue band containing 24stars，denoting（指示，表示）that Missouri was the 24th state．
1．The motto “United We Stand，Divided we Fall”
2．The right section representing the United States
3．The left section containing a moon representing a new state and a grizzly bear standing for courage．
State Song州歌
Missouri Waltz
Hush－a－bye，ma baby，slumber（睡眠）time is comin’soon；
Rest yo’head upon my breast，while mommy hums a tune；
The sandman is callin’，where shadows are fallin’，
While the soft breezes sigh as in days long gone by．
Way down in Missouri where I heard this melody，
When I was a little child on my mommy’s knee；
The old folks were hummin’，their banjos
（班卓琴，五弦琴）were strummin’
So sweet and low．
Strum，strum，strum，strum，strum，
Seems I hear those banjos playin’once again，
Hum，hum，hum，hum，hum，
That same old plaintive strain．
Hum，hum，hum，hum，hum，
That same old plaintive strain．
Hear that mournful melody，
