How to identify the petal types of Cymbidium goeringii (spring orchid)? Let's discuss it together with fellow orchid growers.

Knowledge should be concise. Here is a brief summary of how to identify the petal types of Cymbidium goeringii (spring orchid):

Three characteristics of the lotus petal type:

1. The three outer petals are broad and wide, thick and substantial in texture, shaped like lotus petals. "Eight parts long and four parts wide" means the ratio of length to width generally does not exceed 2:1. If after 2 to 3 days of blooming the petals stretch out and the proportion becomes distorted, it can hardly be called a "lotus petal" and can only be described as "lotus-form."

2. The petaloids (inner petals) are short and round, without a hood, and without a "white peak." Clam-shell petaloids and short round petaloids are preferred, scissors-shaped petaloids are second best. If the petaloids are narrow and long or curl outward, they can hardly be called "lotus petals."

3. The lip petal must be round, upright, full, and spreading, sometimes slightly curled. Large round tongues and large Liu Hai tongues are preferred.

Three characteristics of the plum petal type:

1. The three outer petals are short and round; some petal tips have a point and curve slightly inward like a spoon, shaped like plum blossom petals. They should have tight edges, narrowed bases, and level shoulders. If the three outer petals have "long feet and round heads," as long as the petaloids and lip petal meet the requirements of the plum petal type, they can still be called plum petals, but "short and round" is preferred.

2. The petaloids are short and round with a hood; the petal tips have a "white head" and tight edges, giving the petaloids a thickened appearance. Silkworm-moth hood petaloids are preferred. There are hard hoods and soft hoods; those without a hood are not plum petals.

3. The lip petal is short and round, spreading and straight without curling backward. Liu Hai tongues and Ru Yi tongues are preferred.

Three characteristics of the narcissus petal type:

1. The three outer petals are generally narrower and longer than those of the plum petal type, mostly with "long feet," slightly pointed at the tips, with narrowed bases and flared corners.

2. The petaloids have a hood or a light hood. Guanyin petaloids and palm-leaf fan petaloids are preferred. Those whose petaloid tips have a hood with a "white head" are called "clever varieties"; those with a shallow hood or no "white head" are called "official varieties."

3. The lip petal droops or curls slightly, somewhat larger than the lip petal of the plum petal type, mostly large round tongues.

The narcissus petal type is further divided into plum-form narcissus and lotus-form narcissus.

Plum-form narcissus is represented by 'Xi Shen Mei.' Its three outer petals have round heads, resembling plum petals; the main petal has a tight base, the petaloids have a light hood, and the lip petal is a large Liu Hai tongue or large round tongue.

Lotus-form narcissus is represented by 'Long Zi.' Its three outer petals are broader, resembling lotus petals; the petaloids have a light hood, and the lip petal droops and spreads, sometimes curling slightly.

Characteristics of the plain-heart type:

Plain-heart is compared with colored-heart. Any orchid whose tongue surface has no red spots is a plain-heart.

Characteristics of the strange types:

Any variation that differs from the common six-petal form, or that shows an increase in petal number, or that produces a butterfly-like transformation, is collectively called a "strange type." Strange types can be divided into: multi-petal type, butterfly type, and multi-petal butterfly type.

1. Multi-petal type: variation in which the number of petals increases in the three outer petals or the three inner whorl petals.

2. Butterfly type: variation in which the secondary petals or petaloids undergo lip-petalization [butterfly transformation]; the transformed parts change from green to white and are marked with brilliant red patches. It can be divided into inner butterfly and outer butterfly.

Inner butterfly: lip-petalization variation occurs in the inner whorl petals [petaloids].

Outer butterfly: lip-petalization variation occurs in the outer whorl secondary petals.

3. Multi-petal butterfly type: variation in which both multi-petal and butterfly transformation occur.

The above identification of Cymbidium goeringii (spring orchid) petal types is offered for fellow orchid growers to discuss and correct.

Author: Li Jianxin of Jiangsu (Kongling Jushi)