Orchids

The most widely cultivated type of orchid goes by the more familiar name of Vanilla, and is popular as a food colourant and perfume ingredient.

The literal word Orchid comes from the latin 'órkhis', meaning erm, testicle. The root of the plant is said to bear some resemblance and was given the name by John Lindley, a botanist, in 1845. (Men eh..?)

An extinct species of stingless bee was discovered trapped in amber. On it's wings, the bee carried the pollen of an orchid. The amber dated from about 15-20 million years ago ago and was the first evidence of fossilised orchids to date.

Orchids are a cosmopolitan plant, flowering in almost every habitat apart from glaciers. And most recently, on top of my chest of drawers :)