Florana was thought to be one of the most beautiful planets in the galaxy, as well as one of the most peaceful.
Astronomical data
Florana was always carpeted with perfumed flowers, with seas like "warm milk", sands "soft as swan's down" and streams with "water as clear as crystal". (TV: Invasion of the Dinosaurs) Its seas were effervescent. (TV: Death to the Daleks) It was also described as having "floating seas", "beaches of weaved gold" (PROSE: Legacy) and "carpets of sweet perfumed flowers". (COMIC: Time Fraud) Black roses were known to grow on the planet.
Florana was protected by the Galactic Heritage. (AUDIO: The Elite)
History
The Fifth Doctor took Tegan and Nyssa to Florana early in its history, when it was a barren planet. He found that a Dalek had crashed and taken control of the planet, pretending to be its god. It was destroyed by Thane, who attempted to take over himself. This resulted in the killing of many of the inhabitants, and the flowers Florana was named after grew from their ashes. (AUDIO: The Elite)
By the 30th century, Florana was discovered by the Earth Empire and used as a dumping ground for toxic waste by 36 species. (PROSE: Original Sin)
On 5 June 5968, there was a peace conference on Florana between humanity and the Chelonian Empire. The Third Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith arrived at the same time. The Doctor was mistaken as one of the delegates, and Sarah went to go sunbathing. There, she overheard two Chelonians discussing how one had poisoned the emperor's drink. Sarah went to warn the delegates, but the guards would not let her pass. The Doctor noticed the emperor's strange actions and poured a bucket of water down the emperor's throat, thus removing the poison. Changing out of his now ruined shirt, the Doctor and Sarah left Florana for Earth. (PROSE: The Hungry Bomb)
References
On several occasions the Doctor attempted to take his companions to Florana, but was unsuccessful.
- The Third Doctor tried to take Sarah Jane Smith to Florana (TV: Invasion of the Dinosaurs) but was unsuccessful on his first two attempts. (TV: Death to the Daleks, PROSE: Neptune)
- The Seventh Doctor offered to take Bernice Summerfield to Florana, but she declined. (PROSE: Legacy)
- The Seventh Doctor planned to take Elizabeth Klein to Florana for her second trip in the TARDIS. (AUDIO: Klein's Story)
- The Eleventh Doctor was about to take Amy Pond and Rory Williams to Florana, but they were trapped in a time corridor. (COMIC: Time Fraud)
The Seventh Doctor thought about retiring to Florana. (PROSE: The Dimension Riders)