Orchids in Fiction

One of the enjoyable side hobbies to orchid apprecation is that of looking for references to these strangely fascinating flowers in works of literature and popular entertainment.

One of the earliest short stories in which an orchid plays a leading role is an odd little work by the pioneering science fiction author, H.G. Wells.  In actuality, the story is not so much a specimen of science fiction as it is one of horror, and therefore something of a tangent for Wells. It has been republished many times and today you can easily find it on the Web. Sometimes it goes by the title, “The Flowering of the Strange Orchid,” and other times simply as “The Strange Orchid.”.”

Wells lived and wrote during the years of the first great orchid craze, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This was also a time when there were still some distant and relatively unexplored places in the world, which fired contemporary imaginations with fantasies of undiscovered monsters that might yet be lurking in some jungle or mountain fastness.

For “The Strange Orchid,” Wells built on the fact that flowers discharge their scent into the air to attract insects, which in turn spread pollen from one plant to another, assisting the plants to reproduce. Wells wondered: What if a flower had evolved to take this a giant step further by developing its scent to overpower and feed on large animals?

In the story, a retired civil servant with a passion for orchids has purchased a rare specimen. After months of tending to it he is excited to see that it is about to blossom. He goes alone one day, eager to enjoy the first sight and odor of the unknown flower. Later, his housekeeper discovers him on the floor near the orchid, which is emitting a powerful scent and looking very strong indeed (and evil!). An ominous red tint suffuses its
leaves and it has already pushed some of its finger-like shoots round the orchid lover’s neck and beneath his shirt front.

With an inarticulate cry she ran towards him, and tried to pull him away from the leech-like suckers. She snapped two of these tentacles, and their sap dripped red.

Then the overpowering scent of the blossom began to make her head reel. How they clung to him! She tore at the tough ropes, and he and the white inflorescence swam about her. She felt she was fainting, knew she must not. She left him and hastily opened the nearest door, and, after she had panted for a moment in the fresh air, she had a brilliant inspiration. She caught up a flower-pot and smashed in the windows at the end of the greenhouse. Then she re-entered.

She tugged now with renewed strength at Wedderburn’s motionless body, and brought the strange orchid crashing to the floor. It still clung with the grimmest tenacity to its victim. In a frenzy, she lugged it and him into the open air.

Then she thought of tearing through the sucker rootlets one by one, and in another minute she had released him and was dragging him away from the horror.

He was white and bleeding from a dozen circular patches.

Thanks to the fast thinking of the housekeeper in this story, the orchid’s victim survives–this time.

Fortunately, orchids that feast on blood do not actually exist.  It’s possible, though, to see this story as metaphor for the grip that orchids can have on people who fall under their spell. People who succumb to orchid fever–and that includes everyone who decides to try their hand at growing them–tend to contract the illness for life. Consder yourself warned!

If these intriguing plants have put their bite on you, you will want to find out as much as possible about how to grow orchids successfully.  The most complete guide to expert orchid care, many people are finding, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded from the Internet. Mr. Howard’s guide is a complete course, enlightening for beginners as well as the more seasoned growers alike. Also, visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which features a growing database of articles on all facets of orchid cultivation.

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