Definitions HQ

The Orchid (n.) looks ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠as if pistil and stamens had melted into its petals, as if the contents of the flower had overflowed the banks of its involuted petals.

The Orchid (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a flower whose petals flow from its face like a river of white whiskers.

The Orchid (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠passé, like heirloom furniture in a modern living room; set next to “modern” roses, they twist the charm of the bouquet out of joint.

The Orchid (n.) has ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠an ancient air; it seems as if it were transplanted from an infinitely older planet than the one we inhabit; a time; or from the night of time in which our own racial memory is completely lost.

The Orchid (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the one flower that absolutely refuses to mix, a snob to the core. Put an orchid in a bouquet where all the other flowers have among themselves arranged their compromise of beauty, and the orchid stands out like an intruder. Snobs fit in only with other snobs.