The orchid is one of the most loved flowers. But what is its meaning in the language of flowers? When to give an orchid as a gift and what are the most fascinating legends that see it as the protagonist?
You have received as a giftorchid? The orchid is one of the most beautiful flowers because its elegant shape colors our balconies and terraces well and adapts easily to any place, not surprisingly it is defined as a cosmopolitan flower that is easy to find on all continents, with some reserve in desert and icy areas.
The orchid belongs to the order of Orchidales, a perennial herbaceous plant. Most of it is native to the tropical and sub-tropical area of Asia, Central America and South America, it is able to absorb water and independently procure the substances it needs for survival. And what about the flowers? The petals have an extraordinary scent and an elegant, almost regal shape.
I orchid flowers they can last a very long time if they are taken care of in the right way. If they fall out after a short time, there is probably something wrong. It may be that the orchid is not exposed to enough light, that you are not watering it enough, or that you have wet it too much.
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Orchid, meaning
The orchid in the language of flowers does not have a unique meaning all over the world. For example, in China they symbolize the typical purity of children, while in Italy and in the West in general, orchids are considered a symbol of love and are usually given to a person who is very dear to us. Not surprisingly, an orchid is often chosen for Mother's Day.
But not all flowers are the same. The pink orchid is usually given to the person you love and very often to symbolically celebrate the anniversary of marriage, engagement and so on, the black one that in reality, are dark brown, usually are given as gifts when you want to celebrate a business success. In general, orchids today are a sign of greeting and good omen and are also given when you first visit someone at home.
One thing is certain: never give an orchid for no reason, the symbolism of flowers does not allow replicas! And don't forget that it has been considered an aphrodisiac flower for centuries.
Orchidea, the legend of Orchis
Several legends revolve about the birth of the orchid, we mention two. Here is the first:
Once upon a time in a distant kingdom there was a beautiful boy named Orchis, born of a nymph and a satyr. From his mother she had the beauty, while from his father the libido. One day, while Dionysius was being celebrated, Orchis tried to charm and seduce a priestess, something forbidden by the god himself. The boy thought he could escape the vengeance of the powerful Moiras who punished the abuses caused by the desire for omnipotence, but he had no escape and therefore was torn to pieces by ferocious beasts.
The gods, however, did not want to allow the memory of the beautiful Orchis to be lost as well and made it possible for a plant to be born from its remains that reproduced in its underground part, in the two bulbs, precisely the male anatomical appendages that had been the cause of the misfortune. Thus he sprouted the first orchid.
The legend of the queen of orchids
Another legend is linked to the Cattleya variety, considered the queen of orchids.
According to the accounts, Mr. Cattley was an obscure plant-importing florist operating in Victorian London. At the court of Queen Victoria there was a great display of orchids even if in Europe it was not known how to grow them. Usually a vessel was armed that departing from England went to Brazil, the crew went ashore and looked for orchid plants, after finding them they uprooted them and loaded them on the ship.
Once in England the plants lived long enough to bloom and then miserably died. The flowers were sold at a very high price and the plants were usually burned. It happened that someone, knowing Mr. Cattley's florist business, gave him a load of plants destined for certain death and Mr Cattley stowed them in his room in Soho, a humid neighborhood, with narrow and poorly ventilated streets; miraculously the following year the plants bloomed, Cattley sold the flowers and made a lot of money.
The same happened the following year as well. The news caused a sensation in the world of botany and the most eminent scholars visited Cattley and studied his cultivation methods, but could not understand anything about the real reasons for his success. Cattley, who became a famous entrepreneur and no longer able to keep all those plants in his "Soho basement", had beautiful greenhouses built outside London and moved all his plants there, he also had the Soho restaurant repainted with the intent of use it as a selling point.
Unfortunately all the plants died, Mr Cattley who had gone into debt to build the greenhouses, overwhelmed by bad luck, committed suicide.
Read also:
- Orchid: how to care for it and keep it in bloom (VIDEO)
- Orchids - the most beautiful varieties
- The 10 flowers and orchids that look like animals (and more)
- The orchid purifies the air in the house (helping to calm nerves and headaches)
- Orchid: how to grow it at home and in the garden
