The Historical Origins and Appreciation of Chunlan Suxin (Green Cymbidium Pure-Heart Orchids)

1. Wentuan Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty by Zhou Wenduan of Suzhou, also known as Zhou Wenduan Su. Characteristics: the three outer petals are long and broad, with contracted bases and flared corners; scissor-shaped shuang (column petals); large liuhai tongue (lip); thick petal substance; jade-green color, pure and unblemished. The bracts are pale green; the leaves are semi-arching and glossy.

2. Cangyan Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected and cultivated before the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty by the Qian family of Changle Town, Diexian County. When Qian's daughter married, she brought this flower as part of her dowry to the Yu family of Ganlin; when the Yu family's daughter married, she brought the flower as part of her dowry to Yu Jicheng's family in Cangyan, and it was passed down through generations. The people of Diexian pronounced "Cang" as "Wu." In the 1980s, Wu Shufu of Shaoxing entered it in the national orchid exhibition as "Fuhe Su," hence it is also known as Fuhe Su. Characteristics: the three outer petals are round and large with flared corners and long stems with contracted bases. Cat-ear shuang (column petals), large rolled tongue. The flower color is jade-green, the tongue is entirely white, and the bracts are green. The leaves are broad, semi-arching, robust in flowering and easy to propagate. Apart from the column petals, it is extremely similar to Meihe Su.

3. Changshu Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected and cultivated during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty by Zhang Yusheng of Changshu. Characteristics: the three outer petals have long stems and round heads, tightly edged and thick in substance; mussel-shell shuang (column petals); pure white large round tongue. The flower is jade-green with level shoulders; the scape is tall and the flower stance is upright. The leaves are semi-arching with a glutinous texture.

4. Yuepei Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty by Niu Shenwu of Huzhou and given to Xu Yunqin of Jiaxing. Characteristics: the three outer petals have contracted bases and flared corners; mussel-shell shuang (column petals); pure white large round tongue with a pale green tint at the base; level shoulders. The flower color is emerald green like fine jade; the flower form is well-proportioned; the leaves are semi-arching, emerald green and glossy.

5. Yuepei Taosai Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty by Gu Xiangxiao of Suzhou. Characteristics: the three outer petals have long stems with contracted bases and flared corners; mussel-shell shuang (column petals); large round tongue with a faint red blush at the base. The flower color is tender jade-green; the scape is tall and it often produces twin flowers.

6. Yingu Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty by someone of the Mu surname. Characteristics: the three outer petals are bamboo-leaf shaped, with contracted bases, tightly edged; scissor-shaped shuang (column petals); round tongue, pure and unblemished; tall scape; robust pseudobulbs and vigorous flowering.

7. Zhanghe Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected during the Xuantong period of the Qing Dynasty by Liu Maocheng of Tangdi, Shaoxing, also known as Dajixiang Su. Characteristics: the three outer petals are long and broad, with contracted bases and flared corners, green-white in color with a transparent, soft quality; when first opened, the two lateral sepals are mostly horizontally extended, later drooping, with slightly narrowed bases. Scissor-shaped shuang (column petals), large round tongue, the tongue entirely white. The flower form is large; the scape is slender and long, about 18-22 cm tall; the leaf width is 25-30 cm, semi-arching. Occasionally produces two flowers on one scape. Relatively easy to cultivate.

8. Songxia Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected in the 1910s by someone from Songxia, Shangyu. Characteristics: the three outer petals are broad and large; the flower color is jade-green. Drooping shoulders; low scape.

9. Kuihe Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected in 1916 by Lin Taihe of Ningbo. Characteristics: the three outer petals have contracted bases and flared corners, tightly edged. Mussel-shell shuang (column petals), large round rolled tongue. The flower color is emerald green; the scape is tall; the leaves are semi-arching, broad and thick in substance.

10. Cuihe Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected in 1919 by Yang Ganqing of Wuxi. Characteristics: the three outer petals are saddle-shaped, slightly fluttering. Soft shuang (column petals) and round tongue, pure and unblemished. Tall scape, slender stem; the bracts are green tinged with purple. The leaves are semi-arching.

11. Yangshi Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected and cultivated in 1930 by Yang Zuren of Ningbo. Characteristics: thick leaves, semi-arching, 15-20 cm long. The scape is 4-4.5 cm tall, green-white. The sepals are short and round, slightly tight at the edges, with a glutinous texture; mussel-shell shuang (column petals); pure unblemished large round tongue with transparent veins and white moss-like coloration; the flower color is delicate, the petals well-proportioned; the lip is round and pure white. It is a superior grade among Chunlan Suxin (pure-heart green cymbidiums).

12. Wenyan Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected in the 1930s. Characteristics: the three outer petals have long stems and round heads, tightly edged with a glutinous texture. Mussel-shell shuang (column petals); pure white pudendal tongue. The flower color is emerald green; the scape is tall; the leaves are obliquely arching.

13. Yunhe Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected in 1932 by Shen Yuanru of Wuxi. Characteristics: the three outer petals are long and broad with tightly edged, contracted bases and flared corners; soft shuang (column petals); large round tongue; level shoulders. Tall scape; the leaves are short, broad, fleshy and thick, upright.

14. Songhe Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected before the War of Resistance by someone of the Song surname. Characteristics: the three outer petals are long and broad; mussel-shell shuang (column petals); large rolled white tongue. Tall scape; the flowers have slightly drooping shoulders. The leaves are obliquely upright with thick substance.

15. Wangshi Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected before the War of Resistance by Wang Jinlu of Shaoxing. Characteristics: the three outer petals are narrow and long; soft shuang (column petals); pure white rolled tongue; tall scape with a slender stem; the leaves are semi-arching.

16. Songhe Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected before the War of Resistance. Characteristics: the three outer petals are narrow and long, with contracted bases and flared corners; scissor-shaped shuang (column petals); round tongue, pure and unblemished. The bracts are green; tall scape; robust foliage and vigorous flowering; the leaves are semi-arching.

17. Xiehe Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected before the War of Resistance by Xie Ruishan of Suzhou. Characteristics: the three outer petals are long and broad, tightly edged, with contracted bases and flared corners; tight mussel-shell shuang (column petals); large round tongue, pure and unblemished. Tall scape, level shoulders; the leaves are broad and semi-arching.

18. Pin Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected in 1935 by the owner of the Pinfang Teahouse, surnamed Xu, of Suzhou, at the Huqiu flower market. The following year, Rong Wenqing of Wuxi obtained four divisions and renamed it Rongding, Ding Su, and other alternate names. Characteristics: the three outer petals have round heads, tightly edged, with contracted bases and flared corners; green in color with level shoulders; round tongue, water-green in color.

19. Xiangcao Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected in 1936 by Shen Yuanru of Wuxi. Characteristics: the three outer petals have long stems and round heads; shallow mussel-shell shuang (column petals); white long rolled tongue; the flower color is emerald green; the leaves are semi-arching.

20. Long Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected in 1936 by Shen Yuanru of Wuxi. Characteristics: the three outer petals are thick and broad, with contracted bases and flared corners; mussel-shell shuang (column petals); large liuhai tongue, pure and unblemished; the leaves are semi-upright.

21. Suhuai Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected in 1947 by Shen Yuanru of Wuxi. Characteristics: the three outer petals have round heads and long stems; scissor-shaped shuang (column petals); round tongue, white with a slight yellow tinge; tall scape; the flower stance is upright and the flowering period is long.

22. Xuelian Su, petal type: pure petals. History: selected before Liberation by a Zhejiang flower grower. Characteristics: the three outer petals are short and broad, with contracted bases and flared corners; scissor-shaped shuang (column petals); large round tongue, pure and unblemished. The flower color is tender green; the flower form is lovely; the bracts are reddish tinged with green; the leaves are semi-arching.

23. Cuiwen Su, petal type: pure petals. History: in 1989, Zhao Yinquan of Tangdi, Shaoxing, dug it up in Yuyao. Characteristics: the three outer petals are long and broad, with contracted bases and flared corners; soft shuang (column petals) and large rolled tongue, pure and unblemished. Tall scape; the leaves are semi-arching.

24. Yuehe Su, petal type: pure petals. History: in 1989, Zhu Jianqing of Lizhu selected it from flowers in Zhoushan. Characteristics: the three outer petals have contracted bases and flared corners; scissor-shaped shuang (column petals); large rolled tongue with prominent jagged serrations along the edges; the flower is jade-green, pure and unblemished; tall scape; the leaves are semi-upright.

25. Mingyue Su, petal type: pure petals. History: in 1997, Zhao Yinquan of Lizhu, Shaoxing, selected it from flowers in Hubei. Characteristics: the three outer petals are long and broad, with contracted bases and flared corners. Fan-shaped shuang (column petals); exceptionally large round tongue, resembling a bright full moon. The flower form is well-proportioned, pure and unblemished; tall scape; the leaves are obliquely upright.