PICTURES, VIDEO

Meet the Bidens, the orchid hybrid named after US VP and wife

Mrs Lee Kuan Yew poses at the Botanic Gardens, with an orchid named after her. -- ST FILE PHOTO: ALBERT SIM
Mrs Lee Kuan Yew poses at the Botanic Gardens, with an orchid named after her. -- ST FILE PHOTO: ALBERT SIM
Young conservationist Bindi Irwin, daughter of Steve Irwin, had an orchid named after her when she was in Singapore recently. -- ZAOBAO FILE PHOTO
Prince William and his wife Catherine Middleton interact with Vanda William Catherine, a white and purple orchid named in their honour at the National Orchid Garden of the Singapore Botanic Gardens on Sept 11, 2012. -- ST FILE PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Prince William and his wife Catherine Middleton smile as the white and purple orchid (right) is named after them at the National Orchid Garden of the Botanic Gardens. -- ST FILE PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra looks at the orchid, named Ascocenda Yingluck Shinawatra at Singapore Botanic Gardens on Dec 8, 2011. -- ST FILE PHOTO: NURIA LING
Renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli stands beside the hybrid orchid that was named after him, the Vanda Andrea Bocelli. -- FILE PHOTO: YTL CORPORATION
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak (third from left) reaches out to touch a flower at the National Orchid Garden's Burkhill Hall, at a ceremony in which an orchid - the Dendrobium Najib Rosmah - was named in honour of his wife Mrs Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor (second from left). -- ST FILE PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
Korean actor Kwon Sang Woo holds an orchid that was named after him at the National Orchid Garden. -- TNP FILE PHOTO: GAVIN FOO
South Korean star Bae Yong Jun has an orchid named after him, at the National Orchid Garden. -- TNP FILE PHOTO: HEDY KHOO
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan holds up a picture of Ascocenda Shah Rukh Khan, an orchid which was named after him at the National Orchid Garden. -- BH FILE PHOTO: MOHD KHALID BABA
Puerto Rican star Ricky Martin holds an orchid, named Renaglottis Ricky Martin, to commemorate his visit to the National Orchids Gardens. -- FILE PHOTO: S'PORE TOURSIM BOARD National Orchids Gardens
US Vice-President Joe Biden poses with his family during a hybrid orchid naming ceremony at the National Orchid Garden in Singapore on Friday, July 26, 2013. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG

United States Vice-President Joe Biden and his wife Jill had an orchid named after them earlier on Friday morning.

The couple, who are here on a two-day visit to meet up with Singapore officials and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss maritime disputes and trade ties with Asia, were feted during a ceremony at the National Orchid Garden.


A new hybrid was named "Dendrobium Joe and Jill Biden" in their honour. National Park Board CEO Poon Hong Yuen presented them with the birth certificate of the purple flower. They were also accompanied by daughter Ashley and son-in-law Howard Krien.

Click through the gallery to see other orchids named after illustrious personalities.

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