A Cautionary Orchid Tale

One of the enjoyable side hobbies of orchid devotion is that of seeking out references to these strangely fascinating flowers in works of literature and popular entertainment.

One of the earliest works in which an orchid stars in a leading part is an odd little story by the early science fiction master, H.G. Wells.This story is not so much science fiction as it is horror, though. You can easily find it in short-story anthologies as well as on the Web under the title of “The Flowering of the Strange Orchid” or simply, “The Strange Orchid.”

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

In his story, Wells built on the well-known mechanism of flowers discharging their scent into the air to attract insects, which in turn carry pollen from one plant to another, aiding the plants’ reproduction. What if–Wells wondered–there were a flower that took this a step further by evolving the ability to use 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 afternoon to enjoy the first sight and smell of the unknown flower. Three hours later his housekeeper finds him lying unconscious before the orchid, which is  giving out an intoxicating odor and is looking very vigorous and wicked. 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, man-eating orchids do not actually exist.You can, though, view this tale as symbolic of the strange grip that orchids can have on anyone who falls under their spell. People who contract orchid fever, including all who venture on growing them, tend to suffer from it their whole lives long. Don’t say you weren’t warned!

If these intriguing plants have put their bite on you, you’ll want to find out as much as you can about how to grow orchids successfully.  The most up-to-date guide to expert orchid growing, many agree, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded from the web. Howard’s clearly written guide will furnish a thorough education on the subject. Also, be sure to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has an ever-growing database of postings on all facets of orchid cultivation.