Why is this the answer?

The answer is flower because this clever riddle paints a wonderful picture of a beautiful plant by describing its parts and how people use it. Let's look closely at all the special clues the riddle gives us. The first clue says, "A thousand colored folds stretch toward the sky." The word "folds" is a fancy, clever way of describing the petals of a flower. Think about a bright red tulip or a yellow daffodil. They have many layers of colorful, delicate petals that look like they are folded up before they open all the way. And what do all flowers do? They stretch and grow up toward the sky, showing off their bright colors for everyone to see. This first line perfectly describes the colorful, reaching head of a flower and its unique shape. The next part of the riddle mentions that it is "Atop a tender strand, rising from the land." The "tender strand" is the flower's stem. A stem is usually quite thin and a little fragile, which is what the word "tender" means. It rises right out of the dirt or "land" where the seed first started growing. This hint tells us that the object grows up tall on a gentle, green stalk, making it easy to spot in a garden or field. The next line is a little sad, but makes sense if you think about it: "until killed by maiden's hand." A "maiden" is just an old word for a girl or young woman. When someone wants to give a flower as a present, they have to pick it or pluck it from the stem. When a flower is picked, it is separated from its home in the ground and will not live forever. This clever part tells us that the object is something we often cut and hold in our hands. Finally, the riddle gives us the last and clearest clue: "Perhaps a token of love, perhaps to say goodbye." A "token" is another word for a special sign or a gift. People give flowers all the time to show they care about someone. They give them for happy times like birthdays and weddings to say "I love you," or for sad times to say a final goodbye. The flower is the perfect answer because it fits all these wonderful descriptions about its looks and the way people use it in their lives.