Spring Orchid 'Lao Wentuan Su' Variety Characteristics Introduction
Selected during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty in Suzhou by Zhou Fangduan, also known as Zhou Wenduan Su. The three outer petals are long and broad with contracted bases and flared corners, scissor-shaped column, large Liu Hai tongue, thick petal texture, emerald green color, pure and plain. The bud is pale green, leaves are square-shaped with a glossy sheen.
According to the "Lu Family Orchid and Hui Register" preserved by Mr. Xu Zhangquan, a collector in Ningbo, from the Lu family of Junzi Street in Ningbo, it is recorded: "Produced in the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty at the Suzhou Zhou family, at the residence of Prefect Wu Youyun, it has an emerald color that opens easily, upright petals with slightly hard texture, slender stems, and flat shoulders."The "Lu Family Orchid and Hui Register" records "produced at the Suzhou Zhou family," referring to Zhou Wenduan, a literatus of Suzhou during the Daoguang period, who named it Zhou Wenduan Su after his own surname and the color of the petals. Prefect Wu Youyun was a colleague of Zhou's father, Zhou Binnian. Later, Wu Youyun obtained a division from Zhou Binnian and renamed it Wentuan Su. Afterwards, a plain-flowered variety similar to Wentuan Su appeared in orchid circles, called "Xin Wentuan Su" (New Wentuan Su), and Wentuan Su became commonly known as Lao Wentuan Su (Old Wentuan Su) to distinguish them. Wu Youyun was also an early orchid-growing predecessor in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region of our country, and Xu Jilou's "Orchid and Hui Tongxin Lu" mentioned him many times.
The new shoots of Lao Wentuan Su are jade green, the plant is medium-sized, leaves are bow-shaped, leaf texture is soft, leaves are medium-length and broad, about 1-1.2 cm wide, about 30 cm long, leaf tips are sharp and pointed, leaf margins have sharp serrations, leaf grooves are prominent, midrib and lateral veins are distinct, leaf color is dark green with a glossy sheen, leaf bases are low. Bracts are pale green, with emerald green veins extending slightly to the top, green color halo is vivid. The 3 sepals are long and broad, pale green, with fine green vein patterns, contracted bases and flared corners, the main petal is broader, tightly edged, tilting forward and backward, the side petals are slightly narrower than the main petal, tips are thick and slightly hard, scissor-shaped column, large round tongue, pure white as jade, flower scape is slender and tall, pale emerald color, about 12-15 cm long, emerging above the leaves or level with them. The flower has five petals in separate compartments, long flowering period, large flowers, diameter exceeding 5 cm. Its growth and reproduction rate is relatively strong, but its resistance to black spot disease is relatively weak, especially prevalent during hot, humid, and rainy seasons.
The "Orchid and Hui Tongxin Lu" poem says:
The master of the Lotus-Loving Studio loves the secluded orchid,
With a plain face greeting the wind, spring gazes upon itself.
Washing away the dusty, mundane manners of the world,
This body should linger with the moon.
Characteristics: Compact plant type, leaf posture nearly ring-shaped and drooping, 4-7 leaves, longest leaves 30-37 cm, leaf width 0.6-0.7 cm, emerald green color, leaf texture thick and hard yet glutinous, with a glossy sheen. Leaf surface presents a shallow "V" shape, marginal serrations fine, nose ridge not prominent, leaf tips taper smoothly with awn-like sharp points. New shoots are pure and plain. Foot sheaths are thick, hard, and slanting outward. Lazy flowering, lazy grass. Not easy to cultivate, prefers light feeding, easy to grow with clean culture.
Flower bud: The flower bud shape is like a jujube pit. The outer bud sheath has excellent color and sand, with fine and densely distributed green vein patterns. The inner bud sheath is thin as a glass shell, whitish within green, with a certain hardness. The small sheath clinging to the shell is 2.5-3 cm long, thin and hard, with sparse vein patterns, pale green color.
Flower scape: The flower scape is 10-18 cm tall, 0.4 cm thick. There are 5 bud sheaths, shedding well.
Appreciation: Pure plain flowering form. Five petals in separate compartments, flower color emerald green, the three outer petals have good extension, with contracted bases and flared corners tapering sharply to points, finely contracted bases. After 3-5 days of flowering, petals are 3.5 cm long, diameter 7 cm. Petals are 1.5 cm wide. The snow-white spread tongue is 1.2 cm wide; because the petals unfurl and curl immediately, its length cannot be known. The broad scissor-shaped column extends forward, slightly open, shoulders relatively flat. The flower is large, the stem is tall, and the grass posture is ring-shaped and drooping, so the overall presence is relatively good. After half a month of flowering, it presents the posture of flowers above the leaves, extraordinarily beautiful. It is a fine product among traditional plain varieties of Spring Orchid.
