Introduction to the Characteristics of the Jianlan 'Tianlong Yuanhe' Variety

In 2005 it was collected from the mountains in Fuzuo Forest Area, Langshui Township, Rong County, Guangxi, discovered in the same mountain range as Datang Gongfen and Honghe Guan. Its leaves carry a primary crystal-tip variegation. The first bloom came close to rising above the foliage. Currently fewer than ten growths survive. Because of the long wait without seeing flowers, after expanding the orchid garden I simply divided it into several pots and increased natural light to encourage propagation, hoping for blooms. Now, although most of the primary crystal-tip variegation has been scorched black by strong light, the flowers have finally appeared. Characteristics of lotus-petal flowers collected in Rong County: the first bloom on a weak plant is never quite ideal, but as long as it can produce a lotus-petal flower, it will, like Honghe Guan, bloom better and better on repeat flowering as the growths become stronger. This is the first collected lotus-petal flower in my garden found to carry leaf-variegation genes right after coming down from the mountain and to come close to rising above the foliage on its very first bloom.