Book delves into legends of orchids' origins

GANNETT NEWS SERVICE

Originally published May 19
"The Orchid In Lore and Legend" by Luigi Berliocchi; edited by Mark Griffiths (Timber Press, $29.95).

This is a good read for any orchid lover, or anyone even distantly interested in the family. It is sexy, touching, fun and informative. Most is of the lust, love and intrigue in legends of orchids' origins.

In prehistory and history, the orchid first is mentioned in Chinese literature. China has no fewer than 1,000 species, but the most often mentioned is Cymbidium. The first mention in Japan is the ancient tale of the emperor's wife, who was sterile but managed to give birth to 13 children in succession after inhaling the fragrance of C. ensifolium.

In Greek mythology, Orchis was the son of a nymph and a satyr. During a celebratory feast for Bacchus, Orchis committed the sacrilege of attempting to rape a priestess, resulting in his being torn apart by wild beasts, then metamorphosing into a slender and modest plant.

Theophrastus was the first of the Western authors to mention orchids. It was he who first applied the name Orchis scientifically, echoing the myth of Orchis and reflecting the resemblance of the double root tubers to the male genitalia that got old Orchis in trouble in the first place.

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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