National Orchid Day is observed on April 16 every year. The exoticness and beauty of the orchid flowers make them an often sought-after bloom. Not only are orchids prolific but they are also unique, not that easy to grow but infinitely beautiful. Their elegant beauty and mesmerising scent make them the most popular flowers in the world.
The beautiful couple, Mike and Faith Young were volunteering at an orchid reserve in San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas, Mexico fell in love with orchids. And hence, after they lost their loving infant daughter on April 16, 2014, Mike and Faith Young wanted to mark the day and celebrate it in her memory with their favourite flower.
After they started a campaign, within some hours, they also raised an amount that was required to register National Orchid Day as a holiday. And since then, National Orchid Day has gained extensive recognition from orchid growers, supporters, and botanical gardens.
On the occasion of National Orchid Day 2021, here are some incredible fun facts about the purple flower:
- Orchids are one of the oldest families of flowering plants. Their varieties have been found all over the world. This leads experts to believe they have been around since before the continents separated!
- A single Orchid seedpod can contain millions of Orchid seeds that can be easily compared to the size of a speck of dust that is only visible when under a microscope. This is why it is sort of challenging to grow and cultivate these pretty flowers.
- World’s smallest orchid flower is a little over 2 mm wide with transparent petals that are only one cell thick.
- The tallest Orchid flowers known as Sobralia altissima can grow up to 44 feet tall and 11 inches across.
- When orchid flowers mature, they always grow upside down in their natural habitat. Their petals tend to be thick and heavy, hence it is only normal that they grow in such an interesting way.
- Some orchids bloom for mere hours, others for months. Depending on the species, some orchid flowers will only bloom for a few hours. Other varieties can have blooms lasting months.
- The vanilla bean comes from a species of Orchid. The Vanilla Orchid is the only commercial grown and harvested Orchid plant.
- Orchids strangely resemble creatures from the animal kingdom. While Ophrys apifera, also known as Bee Orchids, bears a striking resemblance to a bee, Dracula Simia, also known as ‘Monkey Orchids’ looks very similar to the face of a monkey.
