I now return to the critical project of covering the often-ridiculous official stuff of all 50 U.S. states, and, I have now decided, all our non-states as well. This time, it’s the District of Columbia. Although D.C. only has four…

At least one of these doesn’t exist.

Official state flower: The white and lavender columbine. Actually, the identity of the Colorado state flower is not entirely clear. Section 24-80-905 does say it's "the white and lavender columbine," but that turns out to be a description, not a…

Official state nickname: The Golden State. Official state mineral: gold. Official state motto: "Eureka" (Greek for "I have found it," the "it" in this case probably being gold). Official state flower: the golden poppy. Official state colors: gold (also blue)….

Official state nickname: "The Natural State." First official state motto: Regnant Populi ("The People(s) Rule"?). Year they decided that was either grammatically incorrect in Latin or not quite what they wanted to say: 1907. Current official state motto: Regnat Populus ("The People Rule")….

Official state tree: the Palo Verde (not clear which kind, either Parkinsonia florida or Parkinsonia microphylla, could be both). Official state fossil: petrified wood (Araucarioxylon arizonicum, although that species may not actually exist). Official state bird: the cactus wren, "otherwise known as Coues'…