A genus of tropical orchids native to South America, known for their showy pink or purple flowers and unusual column structure.
Named after Aspasia of Miletus, an ancient Greek intellectual and companion of Pericles, by botanists following the tradition of naming plants after notable figures in history.
Carl Linnaeus and other early botanists named plants after famous historical women—Aspasia orchids are named after a woman who was so influential in ancient Athens that Pericles' political enemies attacked him for his relationship with her. It's a hidden history of classical learning in flower names.
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