Chapter 1
The art of botanical catfishing
Chapter 2
Vanilla, the orchid in your kitchen
Chapter 3
Orchidelirium and the Victorian craze
Chapter 4
The ultimate botanical rule-breakers
Ch 3 · Orchidelirium and the Victorian craze
misslily The Orchid Graveyard
They built hot glass tombs, they turned the boilers high, and watched the orchids die.
misslily Tough wild orchids used to protect cargo from Brazil to London bloomed into spectacular purple flowers upon arrival, sparking an immediate obsession.
misslily Rumors of fictional monsters and deadly diseases guarded secret Victorian orchid locations.
Fun Fact
Orchid auctions: At the height of Orchidelirium, a single rare orchid specimen could sell at London auctions for the equivalent of a modern luxury house.
Glossary
orchidelirium (noun)
A fanatical obsession with collecting and cultivating orchids. During the 1800s, wealthy English collectors hired professional hunters to search tropical jungles for rare species.
A fanatical obsession with collecting and cultivating orchids. During the 1800s, wealthy English collectors hired professional hunters to search tropical jungles for rare species.
Quiz
In which country did the orchid plants that sparked the 1818 London craze originate?
Quiz
Which biologist accidentally triggered the Victorian orchid craze by using them as packing material?
Quiz
Why did Victorian orchid hunters routinely create fake maps and false location reports?
Quiz
What was the Victorian-era obsession with collecting rare orchids commonly called?
Quiz
How did rival orchid hunters sometimes quickly ruin plants already collected by others?
Quiz
What destructive tactic did some Victorian orchid hunters use to keep their finds rare?
Quiz
What book, published in 1851, finally helped Victorians learn how to keep orchids alive?