Where did Tulips come from?

Native to Central Asia, where they were discovered, tulips were brought to Europe in the 16th century, and people started to cultivate them on a massive scale. Tulip was later introduced to Turkey, where it became an important part of the local culture. To date, an impressive 75 recognised species of tulips and over 3000 varieties have been created via selective breeding.

More precious than a diamond

At the height of Tulip Mania, between 1634-1637, a single bulb was said to be valued at an astounding price — a massive ten times the annual income of a wealthy skilled artisan.

What are tepals?

Tulip flower is shaped like a cup and it consists of three petals and three sepals. Since petals and sepals look alike, they are both known under the common name ‘tepals’.

What’s in a name?

Tulip is considered as the king of bulbs. The botanical name for tulips is tulipa; which is derived from the Turkish word ‘tulbend’ or ‘turban’ as the flower resembles it. Interestingly, tulip is also the national flower of Turkey.

Published in Dawn, Young World September 23rd, 2017