Holland's pride: Tulips

The Netherlands may be known for its tulips but these flowers initially came from somewhere else entirely. Tulips originated in Turkey, and the first bulbs to arrive in the Netherlands were brought there by Carolus Clusius in the 16th century.

He planted them in Leiden University's botanical garden (Hortus Botanicus) where he conducted research into the flames and stripes on their petals - patterns that were discovered much later to be caused by a virus. These bulbs then formed the basis for Dutch bulb production and tulip breeding.