Singapore honoured visiting Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi by naming an orchid hybrid after her. Papilionanda Aung San Suu Kyi was unveiled at the Singapore Botanic Gardens on 1 December, during the Burmese politician's visit there.
Suu Kyi is on a three-day trip to Singapore and she is scheduled to meet all top leaders including, Acting President J Y Pillay and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Papilionanda Aung San Suu Kyi, which is a cross between Papilionanda Josephine van Brero and Vanda Varut Fuchsia, is a purplish looking variety that blooms on a strong upright stalk. The cluster generally bears 5-10 flowers, each measuring about 9cm across.
"The sepals and petals are a delightful pastel bluish purple adorned variously with fine purple spots and tessellations, each bloom is complemented by a prominent waxy reddish purple lip," said Singapore' s National Parks Board, as reported.
Presenting delegates with orchid flowers variants named after them as been a quite popular trend in Singapore. NParks, according to reports, explained that this orchid diplomacy "serves as a gesture of friendship to promote goodwill between Singapore and other countries" and also strengthen bilateral ties.
Since 1956, several leaders, including Ban Ki-moon, Nelson Mandela, Prince William and Kate Middleton, who visited Singapore have been honoured by naming orchid hybrids after them.
Aung San Suu Kyi was given a grand welcome by PM Lee upon her arrival in Singapore. The prime minister also hosted the Nobel laureate for a dinner at the Istana on Wednesday. On Thursday, both the leaders will be guests-of-honour at the opening ceremony of a three-month exhibition of Myanmar artefacts at the Asian Civilisations Museum.
