Orchids
ORCHIDACEAE
Orchids aroused intense passion during the European "orchidomania" of the 19th century. Expeditions were dedicated to capturing them in the tropical wilderness, but they also inspired several horror stories. One of the most famous is "The Blooming of the Strange Orchid" (1894), by H.G. Wells, about a killer orchid. Several scientific names of orchids refer to female genitalia, although orchis means testicle in Greek.
References:
Butcher, Daisy, ed. Evil Roots: Killer Tales of the Botanical Gothic. London: British Library, 2020.
Giraldo, Efrén. Sumário de plantas oficiosas: um ensaio sobre a memória da flora. São Paulo: Fósforo Editora, 2024.
Peeters, Norbert. "Orchidelirium: The Intoxicating Allure of Orchids." Extra Extta, n.d. https://extraextramagazine.com/talk/orchidelirium-the-intoxicating-allure-of-orchids/.