The history of the Singapore Botanic Gardens is inextricably linked to its first director, Henry Ridley, and his efforts in getting coffee planters to grow rubber towards the end of the 19th century. So relentless were his attempts that he became known as 'Mad Ridley', whose persistence did pay off nonetheless with the rise of the motor-car industry, which triggered a demand for rubber tyres, sparking off the rubber boom of the early 20th century. It was also during Ridley's time in charge that Singapore's national flower, Vanda Miss Joaquim, was bred. An Armenian lady, Agnes Joaquim, successfully crossed vanda hookerina and vanda teres, and the resulting hybrid was promptly confirmed by Ridley as the Vanda Miss Joaquim.
