Orchids
Exotic, mysterious, seductive, and breathtaking, the orchid, in its wide variety of shapes and colours, would surely be a stunning present for a special friend or loved one. Coming in all colours (even brown and black) with the exception of blue, and with many different petal styles and formations, the orchid has earned the position of the number one most popular houseplant in the UK. The orchid also makes striking cut flowers for arrangements, bouquets, boutonnières and corsages.
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The orchid’s history and mythology is somewhat peppered with drama and intrigue. The orchid’s name comes from the Greek orchis for ‘testicle,’ because of how the bulbous roots resemble this part of the anatomy. A particularly violent origination myth for the orchid comes from Greek times. Orchis, the son of a satyr and a nymph, offended the gods by attempting to force himself on a priestess during a religious celebration, and was punished by being destroyed by wild animals, afterwards turning into the orchid. However, this myth is unlikely for more practical reasons, as the orchid is indigenous to tropical areas such as those in Asia and South America. The orchid was highly prized for the Aztecs, who removed the vanilla essence to flavor their chocolate, increasing the potency of this fabled aphrodisiac.
The collection of orchids by explorers during the 19th and early 20th centuries was a cutthroat business, with some species being collected to nigh extinction, and other varieties disappearing completely. As also happened with many now-extinct animal species, these varieties were farmed with little mind for preservation and study but rather for their commercial value, with thousands of orchids being shipped back to Europe and England for the enjoyment of those wealthy enough to acquire them. Many explorers lost their lives in the pursuit of this prized flower, seeking it in formerly uncharted and dangerous regions of the world.
Of the species that do still exist, there is a fabulous variety, with the orchid boasting blooms in shades that are almost never found in other flowers. In addition to the many solid colours the orchid offers, there are some attractive spotted and striped kinds as well. One of the most popular is the Phalaenopsis, in a delicate shade of light fuchsia on a vertical stem. There are several pure white varieties, and still others with white outer petals and fuchsia centers, or brown strips or spots on their petals. There are also many yellow varieties, which can also be solid yellow or can feature attractive mottled patters in brown or red. Also coming in pink, orange, red, purple, green, and black, the orchid makes a delightful gift as a cut flower that can last several days in water, or as a houseplant which with proper care can last up to several months, prolonging your enjoyment of this exotic beauty.
© Flowers Online.org.uk 2007.
