Did you know? Consumption of which plant is conducive to virility…

New Delhi: Orchis italica, the naked man orchid or the Italian orchid, is a species of orchid native to the Mediterranean Basin. It gets its common name from the lobed lip (labellum) of each flower which mimics the general shape of a naked man. In Italy, it is believed that the consumption of the plant is conducive to virility. It prefers partial shade and low nutrient soil, and flowers in April. Orchis italica grows up to 50 centimetres (20 in) in height, with bright pink, densely clustered flowers.

The petals of this orchid really look like a naked man with arms and legs. The flower resembles a bare man hanging with a grin and two eyes. This orchid species is found in bunches across the region such as Jordan, Turkey, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Israel, and Greece. The species is hermaphrodite meaning it has both male and female sex organs in the same plant.

The flowers come in a wide range of colours like distinctive shades of pink, white, purple and even yellow. Other than this, it additionally comes in various sizes as well.

Planting: Sometimes small plantlets (keiki) appear from the nodes on the flower stems. Detach the plantlets when they have developed several good roots and pot them up in orchid compost. Water them sparingly at first, but mist them daily. Always use a proprietary orchid compost. Ensure good light levels in winter, as these are essential to encourage flowering. An east- or west-facing window would be ideal. Move to a shadier spot in summer and protect from direct sunshine. When planting terrestrial orchids outdoors, plant in semi-shade, no direct sun at midday.

A very suitable place would also be on the north side of a building. Most orchids are woodland plants and therefore prefer cool sites, which do not become too dry and hot during summer. Places where ferns thrive are also suitable for. Don’t plant your orchids close to trees or big shrubs because their roots are effective competition for water and nutrients!

Autumn is the best season for planting. Spread out the roots in the upper 10 cm (4 inches) of the soil, the rhizome 2-3 cm (1 inch) below the surface, shoot buds upwards. Fill in the remaining substrate without compressing it, and water thoroughly.

Economic Importance:

In the older times, people believed that a plant is beneficial for the organ which it resembles. So, since the naked man orchid resembles a man’s genital organ, in the Roman Empire, this orchid was utilized as a treatment for men’s virility issues.
This orchid species is also beneficial for flatulence problems.
It also helps in treatments of skin and is beneficial for dry skin.
The plant is also useful having nutritive and diarrheal properties.
The root is highly nutritious and is dried and crushed to make a flour.
It is also utilized as an espresso elective to make a drink called Turkish Delight.