As a popular bloom that often symbolizes new life
and the onset of spring, the tulip is a delicate flower
with an interesting past. Though many assume that
the tulip came from Holland, it actually originated as
a wildflower in central Asia, which was then cultivated in Turkey as early as 1000 AD. The bulbous plant
went on to hold such significance in Turkey that one of
the country’s major eras of national history—spanning
from 1700 to 1730—is known as the Tulip Period.
The Turks initially began cultivating tulips in
window boxes and flower beds. As the flower’s popularity spread, the tulip’s likeness was used in patterns
on rugs, textiles, and ceramic tiles and on architectural
features of buildings. In addition, by the 16th century,
gardening had become a restful hobby for wealthy officials, who also prized the delicate tulip. Spectacular
rows of tulips were displayed on lavish palace grounds
and on walkways around elaborate fountains. The Turkish name for the tulip was lale, but the English name
for the flower stems from the Turkish word dulbnad,
or “turban.” Today, the tulip continues to symbolize
wealth and prosperity.
The tulip was introduced to Europe in 1554 when
its seeds and bulbs were sent to Vienna, Austria, by the
Turkish sultan Busbecq. As Europeans came to appreciate the beauty of the blooms, the flower’s popularity
soared, particularly in 17th century Netherlands, where
the phenomenon of “Tulip Mania” set in. During that
time, tulips became so highly prized that they were
traded like currency, worth more per ounce than gold
and other precious metals. For example, a bed of simple
tulips was worth the equivalent of a small house. Eventually, the soaring price of tulips in the Netherlands
caused financial markets to crash—often compared to
the historic Wall Street Crash of 1929—ruining the finances of thousands of merchants and business people.
Today, tulips are grown throughout the world, but their
association with the Netherlands remains, as most are
commonly identified as “Dutch Tulips.”
Due to the high price of the plants, little research
has historically been conducted on the tulip’s potential medicinal properties. In ancient herbal medicinal
books, only a few references can be found regarding
the tulip, as people were hesitant to crush the petals
of the precious flower. Nonetheless, there is some evidence that crushed tulip petals may have provided
effective relief for insect bites, burns, and rashes, and
that women availed themselves of red-hued tulip petals
to replicate the appearance of a natural blush on their
cheeks. During World War II, the Dutch overcame food
shortages by eating the bulbs of tulips. Today, fresh
tulips are added to appetizers, salads and desserts; the
British eat a classic dish of stuffed tulips at special occasions.
The predominant use of tulips around the world,
however, remains ornamental. Today, there are over
3,000 registered varieties of cultivated tulips. Billions
are grown each year; most are cultivated in Holland
and exported to other countries. In fact, the Nether- lands continues to rely on the tulip industry as a major
contributor to its economy. Enjoyed as a repeat-flower- ing bulb in garden beds and as a delicate bloom in cut
flower arrangements, the tulip is considered the third
most popular flower in the world—second to the rose
and the carnation. Of the tulip’s wide variety of colors,
red is the most popular. The passage can best be described as primarily:
F. a challenge of the assumption that tulips originated in Holland.
G. a tribute to the popularity of tulips across the world.
H. an attempt to explain the significance of the Tulip Period in history.
J. an account of the history of tulips as they are known today.