Hardly any flower is more popular, but what do orchids have to do with testicles? And from which language does the name actually derive? We'll enlighten you.
Orchids are probably one of the most popular flowers in the world and can be found in their natural form on every continent. With over 1,000 genera and 15,000 to 30,000 species, this plant really has an extreme diversity that has delighted enthusiasts for centuries. The orchid is often referred to as the "queen of flowers". However, the origin of her name is not exactly royal.
Meaning "Orchid"
The name of the orchid comes from the Greek and means "testicles". The testicle-shaped tuberous roots of the plant were probably the decisive characteristics of this curious naming. The orchid was first mentioned in writing by Theophrastus of Lesbos (probably 372-289 BC). Theophrastus, a philosopher and naturalist, in his book Historia plantarum, described the orchid as having just two testicle-shaped bulbs, giving it its name "Orchis".
Orchids as an aphrodisiac
Handed down from other writings of the ancient Greeks, it is also clear that they attributed aphrodisiac effects to the orchid. Dioscurides, for example, differentiated the root bulbs of flowers into the larger bulb of the current year and the smaller bulb of last year. This seemed to have been an important clue in family planning. If the family wanted a son, the man had to eat the big tuber, if the couple wanted a girl, then according to tradition the woman had to eat the smaller tuber. Whether that really helped is left to one's own belief, which, as is well known, can sometimes move mountains.
Of course, the origin of the name of the orchid does not detract from its beauty and elegance, but adds an interesting aspect to its origin.
The variety of orchids is great - you can even find themspecies native to us. Learn more about native and hardy orchids in this article.