Interpretation of the Latest Research Findings on the Evolution of Line Art in Chinese Orchids

 Macao, China  Feng Gangyi

Foreword

From beginning to now, the author has cultivated line-art orchids for more than thirty years. And the author, sparing no expense, has extensively purchased wild resources of leaf art (mainly line art and pattern art, as well as flower art and crystal art and form art) for researching their evolutionary conditions and breeding new varieties, also for more than twenty years. At present, in the author's orchid garden, more than three thousand wild breeding materials are still preserved. Through years of unremitting efforts, more than ten new line-art varieties have been bred, including Chongtianhe, Caixiajin, Jinxia, Yuxia, Baoxia and others (among which several are top-grade flower-and-art dual-excellence varieties); as well as multiple new pattern-art varieties such as Tianshanxue, Xialuan Yuri, Yurui Qiongzhi, Yunmi Bihai and others. In addition, Biyu Suhe (a high-end pure green lotus-petal solid-color variety) has begun to produce snow-white speckled striping; Fengshi Damei (a colorful plum-petal variety with upright and handsome leaf posture) has begun to produce pattern art; Huangjin Su (large-flowered yellow solid-color variety) has produced whole-leaf pattern art in some plants; Jiaotao Su (delicate-petal peach-cheek solid-color variety) has begun to produce line art and pattern art. This article mainly elaborates on the following four aspects: observations of various art-trend changes; changes and evolution of pink spots among the spot category; observations of the relationship between art color, bud color and flower color; some additions and corrections to traditional line-art terminology. This article represents the author's unique insights from long-term research and can be regarded as a companion piece to the author's earlier work "A Brief Account of Line Art in Chinese Orchids."

Observations of Various Art-Trend Changes

 Among the five major categories covered by Chinese orchids - flower art, line art, form art, crystal art and pattern art - line art is an extremely important category. It can be said that line art is a colorful, ever-changing, deep-as-the-sea world. Therefore, in the broad-leaf orchid world represented by Cymbidium sinense, there is a saying: "Without understanding line art, one is not qualified to discuss orchid art." According to researchers, silver, color, fat, colloid, albino, lutein and others are the basic elements of line art. It is also said that in regions with more pronounced maritime climates, orchids are most prone to producing art, such as eastern Hualien and Miaoli on the island of Taiwan, China. Internal causes work through external causes. The production of art in orchids involves various complex factors; only when various elements are integrated within the orchid plant, surging up and down, can they become the driving force that triggers art production in orchids. Since the author is not versed in science, only through long-term persistent and meticulous observation can understanding be gained. The following records are some results observed in art-change research and breeding practice (many of which are transitional art states): Yunjing produces speckled striping; Yunjing produces dark green cap; Yunjing central vein reveals deep dark green cap and blooms deep dark green cap flowers; claw produces claw hanging line; claw produces claw speckled striping; white deep claw produces white crown; white claw hanging line produces white claw pink leaf central vein reveal; white claw hanging line retreats claw produces pink spot; white claw edge striping produces dark green cap white central reveal; white claw hanging line - white speckled striping - dark green claw white speckled striping; white claw advances to central reveal seven-tenths art; white claw - white shallow rim - white rim striping - white crown rim striping; yellow claw hidden line produces yellow claw striping; yellow claw speckled striping produces yellow central reveal; yellow claw produces yellow crown striping; yellow-white deep claw produces primary central spot; yellow-white claw speckled striping produces dark green cap speckled striping; dark green claw produces white swept tail central vein line; dark green claw speckled striping produces dark green cap central reveal; three-generation claw produces non-tailed speckled striping; light green claw produces light dark green cap yellow central reveal; dark green cap yellow-green speckled striping produces white claw speckled striping; strip striping advances to deep crane large rim speckled striping (Chongtianhe); strip striping advances to more than ten art trends including speckled striping, brushed edge, half-side claw, claw, rim, claw speckled striping, dark green claw central spot, brocade, treasure and others (Caixia series); half-side inner striping primary claw produces central reveal; brushed edge striping produces rim central reveal; non-tailed speckled striping produces green leaf, next generation produces central spot; non-tailed single-line speckled striping produces central reveal; non-tailed inner-side single-line speckled striping produces half-side non-tailed speckled striping; speckled striping changes to claw; non-tailed yellow-white speckled striping produces dark green rim yellow central reveal; upper half leaf speckled striping produces whole leaf speckled striping; speckled striping or claw speckled striping produces light dark green cap central reveal or dark green claw central reveal; rim striping produces crown; dark green speckled striping produces bright line speckled striping; white speckled striping produces light dark green cap central reveal; yellow base green speckled striping produces dark green cap half-side central reveal; non-tailed white fine striping produces brocade art; non-tailed central vein scattered-line speckled striping produces central spot; central vein large line produces (sometimes does not produce) central reveal and central spot, and easily produces green leaf; non-tailed striping line produces central reveal; inner-side short speckled striping produces inner-side large speckled striping; single silver line produces colorful shell white large swept tail; yellow base green claw speckled striping produces yellow central spot; non-tailed silver line produces white speckled striping; light yellow base green line produces bright black-white speckled striping; upper leaf hidden line produces brushed edge claw speckled striping; central vein hidden speckled striping produces primary dark green cap central reveal; white speckled striping produces white brushed edge speckled striping; progressive post-dark silver line produces white speckled striping, white central spot, white claw speckled striping; non-tailed hidden white line produces white central spot; central vein and secondary vein lines produce white central spot; upper leaf hidden white art produces yellow-white speckled striping; hidden striping with silver produces white speckled striping; inner-side short speckled striping produces inner-side large speckled striping; central vein line produces half-side claw striping; central vein and secondary vein white lines produce dark green cap; non-tailed speckled striping produces light dark green cap; cream-yellow dot spot produces snow-white swept tail; dark green line produces green-white speckled striping; non-tailed white spot line produces yellow central reveal; sparse striping line produces half-side large strip striping; leaf inner hidden white line produces tricolor claw speckled striping; non-tailed speckled striping produces dark green cap speckled striping line and transitions toward central spot (this phenomenon is relatively common); non-tailed yellow speckled striping produces yellow central reveal; single non-tailed speckled striping mutates to whole-plant whole-leaf pink-yellow-white exceptionally beautiful speckled striping art (currently under key selection and breeding); 1-2 non-tailed speckled striping mutate to whole-plant whole-leaf pink-white exceptionally beautiful speckled striping art (currently under key selection and breeding); yellow rim produces rim striping; yellow large rim produces deep crane large rim striping (Memorial Orchid); white rim produces white crown rim; white large rim produces white large rim crown striping; green rim produces white claw; large rim produces crane rim; shallow rim produces deep crane rim striping; yellow-white primary crane produces yellow-white crane striping; yellow crane produces white crane; yellow crane produces pink leaf deep large yellow crane; yellow crane produces ghost pink leaf; progressive central spot produces progressive central reveal; non-tailed back silver produces central spot, central reveal; primary central spot produces deep claw, shallow rim; white brushed tail produces light green cap; swept tail produces claw; swept tail produces claw hanging line; green leaf with silver produces one line then produces whole leaf large speckled striping; dark green yin-yang art produces green leaf; yellow-green leaf produces dark green cap yellow-green base; pink-green art produces white art; black art produces white art; thick silver produces fire-burn art; post-bright turns to full-bright (currently bright).

Changes and Evolution of Pink Spots Among the Spot Category

 In the vast field of line art, the spot category (tiger-spot category) is also included, forming four major systems together with the claw category, speckled striping category and dark green cap category. Within the spot category, some divide it into large tiger spot, hail-dot spot, brocade-sand spot, meteor spot, hawksbill spot, snake-skin spot, arrowhead spot and others, with various classifications differing among practitioners. Based on the author's observation, the spot category has two types: fixed art states and drifting art states. Fixed art states are generally various named tiger spots, which the author summarizes into multiple forms including full spot, block spot, node spot, strip spot, dot spot, intermittent spot and mixed spot; drifting art states the author calls pink spots (or pink leaf), which is a primary art state within spot art, not previously mentioned by predecessors. Pink spots often appear in a powder-like form, mostly white and yellow, sometimes covering the entire leaf, sometimes distributed on any part of the orchid leaf. Pink spot art states drift unpredictably but are extremely variable. The author estimates they contain certain line-art factors, which may be silver or silver derivatives. When these substances gather at the leaf tip, they can form a claw; when they gather at the leaf margin, they can form a rim; when they gather within the leaf, they can form speckled striping; after long-term evolution, they can form various grades of line art. Among the spot category, those with clearly defined boundaries such as large tiger spot, mung-bean spot and net-vein spot are more difficult to develop into line art; those with indistinct boundaries mostly can evolve into line art. In addition, pink spot types are mostly post-dark or progressive post-dark, and are mostly red buds, pink-red buds, yellow buds and colorful buds, easily blooming various colored flowers, promising for breeding flower-and-art dual-excellence fine varieties. In summary, pink spot types can basically all change and evolve into line art in the end - this may be the final destination of pink spot types. The following records are the author's long-term observations regarding the changes and evolution of pink spot types (including other spot types): pink spot produces swept tail; pink spot produces claw; pink spot produces rim; green-yellow pink spot produces speckled striping; middle-section pink spot produces hooded leaf swept tail; pink spot produces key-mouth crystal; pink spot produces unformed dark green cap speckled striping; middle-lower-section pink colorful spot produces dawn spot; pink-yellow scattered spot produces white speckled striping; middle-lower-section white pink spot produces swept tail; pink spot produces non-tailed fine-line speckled striping; pink spot produces net-vein spot; pink spot produces crown art; pink spot produces shallow claw, deep claw, crown, crane, then crown striping, crane striping (this variety awaits naming); powder-like dawn spot produces shallow claw, produces deep claw, produces crane art, produces crown art; powder-like dawn spot produces tailed speckled striping, produces non-tailed speckled striping; small tiger spot produces claw; small tiger spot produces mixed speckled striping; unformed block spot produces green claw; net-vein spot produces mixed speckled striping; yellow scattered spot produces yellow base green line; yellow-white large tiger spot produces pattern art; foot spot produces leaf spot, and mostly tiger spot.

Observations of the Relationship Between Art Color, Bud Color and Flower Color

 Through long-term meticulous observation, the author has noticed that art color, bud color and flower color have an exceptionally close relationship, and the relationship between bud color and flower color is particularly close. Here, in addition to focusing on the relationship between bud color and flower color, the author will also touch on the relationship between art color and flower color. Taking Cymbidium sinense (Baosui orchid) as an example, different origins produce greatly different bud colors. For instance, Cymbidium sinense from the mainland mostly has brown buds, while Cymbidium sinense from Taiwan, China mostly has green buds. Under normal circumstances, brown buds mostly bloom brown flowers of inferior color, while green buds bloom lighter-colored flowers or even solid-color flowers. However, after mainland Cymbidium sinense develops art, many will turn into red buds or colorful buds, especially plants with dark green cap, central spot and central reveal art, whose flower colors also mostly become vivid; while Taiwan, China orchids, even those with dark green cap, central spot and central reveal art, show no great change in flower color and bud color. Also, because the wild resources of Cymbidium sinense in Taiwan, China have been exhausted, what is seen now are all traditional varieties; whereas the author has long collected and developed wild resources of mainland Cymbidium sinense, thus this aspect has become the author's research direction. The following records are the author's long-term observations of the relationship between bud color and flower color in natural buds of wild mainland Cymbidium sinense plants and in variant buds after developing art: red bud blooms green-claw red flower; red bud blooms ochre flower; pink-red bud blooms compound-color flower; pink-red bud blooms white-rim compound-color flower; pink-red bud blooms green bird-mouth bright red flower (Yuxia); light peach-red bud blooms peach-colored flower; pink-red bud blooms water-red flower (Zuixia); pink-red bud blooms compound-color green bird-mouth flower; pink-purple bud blooms purple deep-rim red-tongue flower (Ziyun Hongri); golden-red bud blooms cinnabar red flower; golden-red bud blooms rouge red flower; light claw purple-red bud blooms flower with purple rims on main petal, side petals, column petals and tongue (Dahong Dazi); bright red bud (leaf emerges white then turns green) blooms bright red flower; yellow bud blooms red flower; yellow bud blooms purple flower; light yellow-green bud blooms white flower; yellow bud pink leaf blooms purple flower; yellow bud yellow leaf-stalk pink spot blooms cinnabar red flower (Fugui Hong); yellow bud large pink spot blooms rim red flower; light yellow bud blooms white-rim compound-color flower; green-yellow bud blooms purple flower; yellow-green bud pink leaf spot blooms golden-yellow peach-cheek solid-color flower (Jintao Su); golden-yellow bud blooms yellow flower (Caixiajin); colorful bud blooms ochre-red flower; new line-art variety with speckled striping colorful bud blooms brown flower (still changing); colorful bud pink spot blooms compound-color flower; colorful bud blooms peach-colored flower; green bud pink tongue blooms pink-yellow flower; pure green bud blooms pure green lotus-petal solid-color flower (Biyu Suhe); halo-green bud blooms quasi-solid-color flower; white-green bud blooms white flower (Baoxia); light green bud blooms yellow-green flower (Yuhuangdie); pink-green bud blooms red-yellow-green tricolor flower; green solid-color bud blooms yellow flower yellow-embryo solid-color; pink-green bud blooms pink-red flower; blue-green bud blooms mixed brown flower; blue-green bud blooms green-petal halo-tongue flower (Tianshanxue); pure green buds of various shades bloom solid-color flowers of various shades; blue-brown bud blooms superior bright and beautiful compound-color flower (this situation is relatively rare, such as Qixia); blue-brown bud blooms mixed-color plum-petal flower (Fengshi Damei); blue-brown bud blooms pork-liver red flower (Chidan Zhugan); blue-brown bud blooms purple flower; blue-brown bud blooms dark red compound-color flower; blue-brown bud blooms cinnabar-gold flower; purple bud blooms purple flower; light purple bud blooms purple-striped speckled striping flower (Ziwen Ke'ai); light purple bud blooms red flower; black bud blooms orange-yellow flower; ochre-black bud blooms yellow flower.

Some Additions and Corrections to Traditional Line-Art Terminology

 In the vast world of line art, predecessors (mainly the Japanese and Taiwan, China orchid communities) have expended diligent effort and made pioneering contributions. However, in the construction of this temple with thousands of gates and doors, the understandings of various practitioners cannot be entirely unified. In view of this, to improve line-art research, the author, despite limited knowledge, briefly offers personal views on some additions and corrections to line-art terminology.

I. Additions

1. Conventional name: central spot; Proposed name: light dark green cap central spot, deep dark green cap central spot.

2. Conventional name: central reveal; Proposed name: dark green cap central reveal, dark green claw central reveal, white claw central reveal, yellow claw central reveal, green claw central reveal, white rim central reveal, yellow rim central reveal, green rim central reveal, dark green rim central reveal.

Among the above central reveals, dark green cap central reveal, white rim central reveal, yellow rim central reveal, green rim central reveal and dark green rim central reveal are relatively stable, and the art color in the center of the leaf is best without moss-green.

3. Conventional name: speckled striping; Proposed name: thick-line speckled striping, fine-line speckled striping, tailed speckled striping, non-tailed speckled striping, half-leaf speckled striping, whole-leaf speckled striping.

4. Conventional name: claw speckled striping; Proposed name: white claw speckled striping, yellow claw speckled striping, green claw speckled striping, dark green claw speckled striping.

The above claw speckled striping types are further divided into two categories: green base with white lines, and yellow base with green lines.

II. Corrections

    Conventional names: currently bright (also called present clear), post-bright, post-dark (also called post-dim, pre-bright); Proposed names: full-bright (currently bright, present clear), post-bright (still retained), pre-bright (post-dark, post-dim, pre-bright), which can further be divided into full-recessive pre-bright, semi-recessive pre-bright, progressive pre-bright.

Among the above three art states, full-bright can be appreciated throughout the entire growth period; post-bright has a shortened appreciation time and is relatively difficult to judge; pre-bright mostly blooms colored flowers, and progressive pre-bright has the greatest breeding potential, capable of advancing to flower-and-art dual-excellence fine varieties (such as Yuxia). After correction, the above three art states have two advantages: first, all three art states contain the word "bright," giving them coherence; second, they can clearly express the respective emergence time and duration of each of the three art states.

Postscript

 The treasure island of Taiwan, China is a world-famous treasure house of orchids, richly producing line-art Cymbidium sinense (called Baosui orchid in Taiwan, China) and exotic flowers. After the Qing court signed the humiliating Treaty of Shimonoseki with Japan following defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, ceding territory and paying indemnities, Taiwan and the Penghu Islands were ceded to Japan. From then on, the treasure island of Taiwan, China entered the era of Japanese occupation. The Japanese people greatly favored orchids, but the four islands of Japan only produce Cymbidium goeringii and Cymbidium kanran. After entering Taiwan, China, the Japanese naturally discovered this treasure house extremely rich in Cymbidium sinense resources with great surprise, and extensively purchased them, bringing them back to their country for careful cultivation, and were the first to begin line-art research. From then on, the Taiwan, China and Japanese orchid communities had regular interactions, thus inaugurating the golden age of cultivation and research of Cymbidium sinense line art in Taiwan, China. Many years ago, the author visited Taiwan, China several times, had the opportunity to survey multiple orchid regions including Hualien and Miaoli, and was fortunate to meet several orchid community elders, experiencing their distinguished demeanor and grand bearing through exchanges. However, as time passed, Cymbidium sinense resources on the island of Taiwan, China gradually dwindled, some elders also passed away with age, and the orchid community no longer had its former glory; conversely, the mainland currently still has certain Cymbidium sinense resources, and in recent years what is popular is almost exclusively new mainland varieties, thus forming a regional alternation and transfer. In view of this, the author believes that in the years to come, mainland Cymbidium sinense should be taken as the main direction of Cymbidium sinense line-art research, and this is also a proposition that line-art researchers must face squarely.

In line-art research, we can also frequently see this situation: as art trends emerge and develop, some orchid plant leaves gradually or suddenly become shorter, broader, thicker, straighter, and the entire plant shape becomes upright and compact. In pattern art as well, this situation frequently occurs. This is probably because line-art and pattern-art orchid plants both possess certain similar art-change substances.

In the process of line-art evolution, some Cymbidium sinense flower colors also undergo varying degrees of change: flower color turns red, purple, colorful, vivid; bird-mouth, rim, dark green cap and speckled striping appear on the flowers. In addition, some flower stalks also show white, red, yellow, purple and other art colors, even speckled striping. The higher the art trend develops, the richer and more brilliant the flower color, sometimes even appearing semi-transparent.

In the breeding of Cymbidium sinense varieties, if one could by chance find a triple-excellence variety with fine art, flower art and fine form, that would be a one-in-ten-thousand top choice.

In the observation of Cymbidium sinense line-art evolution, judging bud color (and the flower color related to bud color) is an extremely difficult matter. Regarding bud color, the degree of art change in the orchid plant, the content of chlorophyll and lutein, the length of time after budding, the difference in year and month of budding, and the weather changes at the time (such as temperature, humidity, light, etc.) can all affect the researcher's accurate judgment of bud color; regarding flower color, the same variety blooming at the same time may not have completely identical flower colors between different pots. After all, observation with the naked eye is far less precise than scientific testing. Nevertheless, I believe my years of meticulous observation and research results still have reference value for line-art research and breeding.

"Yellow art is the starting point of line art, white art is the endpoint of line art" seems to be a common consensus. However, the author feels that traditional line-art knowledge is not necessarily an unchanging golden rule. Because in the author's practical observation, there are some examples of white art turning to yellow art, or after white art turns to yellow art, the offspring having both white art and yellow art simultaneously. Insufficient breeding materials and the emergence of new art trends may be reasons that researchers did not anticipate.

Line-art changes are infinite, often arousing great interest in people, thus having numerous enthusiasts. Line art is also a common topic of conversation for many, but when spoken at length, it often misses the point. In southern Guangdong, two very colloquial sayings are popular: one is "the shoe repairer pulls the thread, pulls it right into the mouth," and the other is "eat cow blood and shit black, results visible on the spot." Both sayings mean that people are too eager for quick success. However, in line-art evolution research, there absolutely are no shortcuts or smooth paths; what people must possess is the endurance of ten years as one day, and the perseverance to withstand loneliness. Only thus can one accumulate and possess the ability to perceive the significant from the subtle and recognize the visible within the hidden, and gradually master the basic laws of line-art evolution.

Mid-April 2013 at the Feng Family Orchid Garden, Chencun