22 November: Orchids

On this date in 2011 scientists discovered Bulbophyllum nocturnum, the first orchid known to flower at night, in New Britain off the coast of Papua New Guinea. 10 things you didn't know about orchids:

1. They are the largest genus of flowering plants with more than 28,000 species. In fact, there are more species of orchid than there are species of mammals and birds. The flowers come in all colours of the Rainbow except Black. Blue ones are quite rare. About 200-300 new species are discovered every year, so it's hard to keep track. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, which has led scientists to believe they are very old plants which evolved when there was just one big continent.
2. The genus to which orchids belong is called Orchis. The term "orchid" was introduced in 1845 by John Lindley in School Botany, as a shortened form of Orchidaceae. The name means "testicle" in ancient Greek, given because the underground tubers look like testicles. Medieval Britons noticed the similarity too, as they gave some orchids the name bollockwort.
3. As is often the case with plants which resemble genitalia, they have come to represent fertility in some cultures. In ancient Greece, orchids were associated with virility. Greek women believed that if the father of their unborn child ate large orchid tubers, the baby would be a boy. If the mother ate small orchid tubers, she would give birth to a girl. What would happen if the father was eating large tubers and the mother eating small ones at the same time, one wonders?
4. In the Victorian language of flowers, orchids also represent fertility, along with love, beauty, refinement, thoughtfulness and charm. They were seen as exotic and much sought after as a symbol of wealth. So much so that Victorian explorers were prepared to risk treacherous terrain, tropical diseases, and hostile wildlife to get their hands on rare specimens. The most dangerous animal they might encounter on some trips was other human beings after the same rare plant. Collectors were known to burn down entire forests once they had their specimens, to ensure their rivals didn't get any.
5. Vanilla beans come from a species of orchid plant.
6. Orchids aren't easy to grow, because they have the smallest seeds of any plant. A single seedpod can contain up to 3 million seeds which are so small you need a microscope to see them. They can be pretty fussy about where they germinate, too. They'll only grow on mycorrhizal fungus, with particular orchid species requiring a particular species of fungus. The seedlings allow the fungus to grow into their root cells, and then digest it. Orchids may rely on this source of food for years before they grow large enough to photosynthesise. Some orchids live off their fungi for their entire lives and never grow green leaves at all.
7. The flowers are symmetrical. Each flower can be divided perfectly in half, with two equal parts. The stunning beauty of many of the flowers has nothing to do with wanting to look nice for humans but rather to make sure they get pollinated by hook or by crook. Some flowers look like female insects so that when a short-sighted male happens along, they try to mate with the flower. Some give off pheromones that mimic those of insects. Others look as if they contain yummy nectar, but don't, so insects flit from bloom to bloom but are endlessly disappointed. Sounds like orchids would do well in politics.
8. Some more cultural beliefs about orchids: Japanese warriors believed they were being rewarded for their bravery if they found one; the Aztecs believed that drinking extracts from the vanilla orchid with cacao beans made them stronger; the Javanese describe jewel orchids as pieces that have fallen from the mantle of a fairy princess; in the Philippines, orchids are believed to protect the forests; according to one ancient Totonaco legend, vanilla orchids sprang from the blood of Princess Xanat when she and her lover were beheaded for disobeying her father’s wishes; and in China they were used as medicine because it was believed they protected singers’ voices, prevented cancer and boosted the immune system.
9. The largest species of orchid in the world is Grammatophyllum speciosum, also known as giant orchid, tiger orchid, sugar cane orchid or queen of the orchids, which is native to Indonesia. It can grow up to 7.62 metres (25 ft) in height. Each plant can bear up to 80 flowers, each measuring 10cm across. The smallest orchid species in the world is Platystele jungermannioides which is about the size of an American dime coin.
10. Orchids are the national flowers of Singapore, Colombia, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala and Panama. Orchids are also the City Flower of Shaoxing, China and the state flower of the Indian state of Assam.

My Books:

If you like stories about:

• Superheroes
• Psychic detectives
• Romance
• Alternative dimensions
• Time travel 
• Secrets
• Friendship
• Family relationships
• Ghosts
• Adventure
• Crime

If you want to read about superheroes who aren't the usual Marvel/DC staples, who don't all live in the USA.

If you like quirky tales.

If you like to support independent self published authors.

Check out my books page