Brazil's national flower - tropical orchid, hairy crab orchid

Brazil is the largest and most populous country in South America. The Amazon River, the world's longest, largest drainage area and largest flow, mostly flows through the northwest of Brazil. Numerous rivers, abundant rain, hot and humid air, and long periods of strong sunshine provide unique natural conditions for plant growth in the Amazon basin. Brazil has the world's largest virgin tropical forest, which produces more than 30% of the total oxygen on the earth. Therefore, Brazil is known as the "Lungs of the Earth". The name of the country is taken from "Brazilian rosewood", a precious wood that is abundant in the local area.

The flowers here are also diverse and colorful, and are deeply loved by the people. Among them, Brazil's national flower "hairy crab claw orchid" is worth mentioning. Its petals are solid and handsome, with varied colors. There are purple spots on the yellow-green petals, and yellow stripes on the white lips. The soft tones complement each other, and the whole flower looks fragrant and beautiful. During the flowering season, strolling there will give you an intoxicating fragrance.

The hairy crab orchid is an epiphytic plant native to the tropical rainforests of Brazil and Mexico. The body color is bright green, and the stems are multi-branched, often clustered and hanging. One branch is composed of several nodes, each node is obovate or oblong, and the nodes are connected, resembling crab claws, hence the name. Its roots cling tightly to the tall branches of giant trees or cliffs, unshakable by wind and rain. Since it was discovered in 1818, it has been widely cultivated in various countries around the world. Through the selection and breeding of horticulturists, more than 200 excellent varieties have been cultivated. The flowering period is from October of the first year to March of the following year. The flower colors are white, red, purple, etc. One plant has several flowers, and it has no branches or leaves, which is very strange. Hairy crab claw orchid is very popular among flower lovers for its beautiful plant shape and bright flowers. Brazil once gifted this flower to China, enriching China's orchid treasures. In June 1975, when China and the Philippines established diplomatic relations, the Philippines also presented 100 kinds of orchids, including the hairy crab claw orchid. Dear Mr. Zhu, he has loved orchids all his life and has cultivated many orchids, including the Brazilian tropical orchid and the rare hairy crab orchid. I don’t remember which poet once wrote a poem praising it:

The name “lan” is not “lan”, and it is related to the cactus family.

The stem joints are connected into crab claws, and the red flowers and green leaves are the king's whip.

The poem describes the characteristics of Brazil's national flower, the hairy crab orchid, so vividly that it is no wonder that the poet calls the hairy crab's claw orchid the "red flower and green leaf king's whip". It's really poetic and endlessly memorable.

The reason why the Brazilian people choose the hairy crab orchid as the national flower is because its flowers are beautiful and upright, outstanding and modest. The large and beautiful flower shape symbolizes the foresight of the Brazilian people; the solid petals symbolize the perseverance of the Brazilian people; and the varied colors symbolize the Brazilian people's fearlessness of any difficulties.

Zhu De's poem "Yong Orchid Exhibition" expresses the aspirations of the people:

When spring comes, purple energy comes out of the east, and all things grow and flourish.

Youlan has a new exhibition in the new city, and everyone praises the fragrance of the country.

The orchids are showing off under the forest, and they are still entangled in the grass.

Even if no one sees it, the green space still contains its own fragrance.