Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why is the word orchid connected to the Greek word for testicle?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Orchid
Yellow flowers of a cymbidium orchid (Cymbidium species).
The word orchid is derived from the Greek word orchis, which translates to "testicle". This etymological connection exists because of the physical appearance of the root tubers found in some species of the genus Orchis. These paired tubers bear a distinct resemblance to testicles, leading to the name.12