Orchidaceae tubers after detecting the plants underground by scent. Orchids have been used in traditional medicine in an effort to treat many diseases and ailments. They have been used as a source of herbal remedies in China since 2800 BC. "Gastrodia elata" is one of the three orchids listed in the earliest known Chinese Materia Medica ("Shennon bencaojing") (c. 100 AD). Theophrastus mentions orchids in his "Enquiry into Plants" (372–286 BC). Orchids have many associations with symbolic values. For example, the orchid is the City Flower of Shaoxing, China. "Cattleya mossiae" is the national Venezuelan flower, while "Cattleya trianae" is the
Cattleya amethystoglossa The lip is bright magenta in color and partially wraps around the column. The throat varies in color from white to pale yellow or gold. Flowers are produced from late fall to early spring. "C. amethystoglossa" grows best in intermediate or warm growing conditions. This species is closely related to "C. guttata" in many ways but differs in flower color and other minor botanical details. There have been a few coerulea and alba forms found in the wild. There are several synonyms for this species: "Cattleya amethystoglossa" var. "lilacina", "Cattleya guttata keteleerii", "Cattleya guttatta lilacina", "Cattleya guttata prinzii", "Cattleya guttata"