What are the eight old varieties of Cymbidium faberi? Detailed introduction to traditional famous varieties

Chengmei：

Emerged during the Qianlong era (about two hundred years ago) from the home of this doctor in Changshu, and is the finest of the red Cymbidium faberi plum-petal varieties. Together with the green Cymbidium faberi "Dayipin," it still retains the status of two great famous flowers to this day, a precious variety handed down from ancient times.  

Leaf posture: thick, broad leaves; the stance is grand and imposing, with ringed, drooping leaves about one chi five or six cun long.  

Flower appearance: the three outer petals are extremely round at the tips, tightly edged, brightly colored, and exceptionally smooth and glossy; the divided-head, closed-back hard pocket-like central petals (like the head of a dragonfly); the dragon-swallowing tongue shaped like a pointed ruyi tongue; usually flat-shouldered, and sometimes with a one- or two-tenths drooping shoulder. The flower stem is pale reddish and thick; although it gives a slightly overstrong impression, it fully possesses the qualifications to be ranked first among red Cymbidium faberi.  

Guanding：

During the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty, it was selected by a person from Huguan, Suzhou, at the Wanhe Hotel, hence it is also called "Wanhemei," and ranks second among red Cymbidium faberi. The leaf posture of Guandingmei is semi-drooping, with broad and long leaves; the leaf width is as broad as Chengmei, and like Chengmei it belongs to the large-leaf type. Its leaf veins are thicker than Chengmei's, and its leaf color is somewhat lighter than Chengmei's. The leaf texture is hard and thick, more semi-drooping and ringed than Chengmei. New shoots have a green base with red filamentous blush (markings). The flower scape is purplish red, the flower bud has a red shell with purplish red vein striping, and the flower stalk rises above the leaf frame, reaching 50 cm tall. Each stalk bears 8-9 flowers; red stalk and red flowers, commonly called "Lord Guan," likening the flowers to purplish red. The three outer petals are short, round, broad and large, with tight edges; their petal-form roundness resembles Chengmei. The central petals are pea-pod central petals, and the central petals easily overlap. Large round tongue, with purplish red spots and patches on the green mossy tongue. The flower color is more purplish and dark, but the flower color does not match Chengmei's bright green. In terms of round and short outer petals, Guanding and Chengmei are the foremost among Cymbidium faberi flowers. Because Guanding's flower color is red and dark, and its pea-shell central petals overlap, China's orchid circles do not regard it as precious. However, Japanese orchid circles instead rank it as a top-grade variety - "exceptional, all-prosperous, rare and precious variety"; there are differences in orchid appreciation tastes. Japanese orchid circles regard it as a colored flower. Judging its flower quality: the outer petals are round and neat, the central petals are thick, the central petals are divided into separate pouches, and the tongue is large and round; it has always been considered a fine variety in the plum-petal group of Cymbidium faberi.

Yuanzi：

   During the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, it was selected by orchid lovers from Huguan, Suzhou. It is a red Cymbidium faberi narcissus-petal variety. Yuanzi's side leaves are semi-drooping, and the central leaves are slanting upright. The leaf width is 1.5 cm, and the length is 45-50 cm. The leaf form is majestic, somewhat like "Chengmei," but the leaf color is not as deep green as "Chengmei." The shoot emergence rate is low, and it blooms easily. The flower stalk is relatively tall, reaching about 60 cm, and even the lower flowers are level with the leaf frame. The flower stalk has a green base with a purplish red tinge, and the flower pedicel is pale purplish red. The flower bud head form is a large flat cut. It does not bear many flowers, usually 5-7, and the spacing between flowers is large, making it especially airy and open. The three outer petals are oblong, with tight edges and thick petal texture, flat-shouldered, and the flower color is green with a pinkish red tinge. Divided-pouch semi-hard silkworm-moth central petals; the central petals are round, neat and glossy, and there is a finger-shaped fork at the front end of the central petals, which is its distinguishing feature. The base of the central petals has a pale purplish pink red cloud, and the head has an obvious white edge and is thumb-shaped, commonly called clasped-fist central petals. Holding-gui tongue. The shape and posture of Yuanzi's center are very much like the pose of holding a gui at a ceremony. The red spots on the tongue are block-like and brightly colored. The flower form is large, and the open diameter can reach 6-7 cm. Yuanzi's flower stalk is tall and upright, the flowers are airy and open, spreading with posture, and the flower color is green, jade-like, pretty and vivid. The flower quality is proper, the charm is excellent, and it gives a sense of calm, dignified elegance.

Lao Ranz：

Selected during the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty by a person surnamed Ruan from Jiashan, Zhejiang, it is also called Ruanzi. It is a famous red-shell type green-flowered plum-petal variety. The flower is a true plum petal, and its bone strength is the best among the old eight varieties. The three petals are short, narrow and deep, flat-shouldered, with divided-pouch large Guanyin hood central petals, a large round tongue, and red spots on the lip petals. Sometimes the flowers open poorly; the tip of the lip petal is pinched narrow and not relaxed, upturned or skewed, hence it is commonly called scale-hook-head Lao Ranz. The flower scape is slender and long.

Dayipin：

It is said that this flower was discovered in the early Jiaqing era (more than 130 years ago) in a basket of collected wild plants in Fuyang, was cultivated by Hu Zhimei of Jiashan, and was greatly admired at the Suzhou orchid show at the time, where everyone called it "Dapin," and so it became its name. At the time, a wealthy merchant named Zhou Yiting saw it and was delighted and surprised, immediately offering three thousand gold to buy it but was refused; the following year he finally obtained it. It is truly a famous flower. Leaf posture: leaves three or four fen wide, about one chi five cun long; among summer orchids it belongs to the broad-leaf, thick-leaf ringed-drooping type, and its luster is also beautiful. Among Chinese orchid lovers it is praised, saying that this flower is truly what Huang Shangu meant by "possessing the bearing of a scholar-official"; it truly combines fame and substance, a flower of beautiful posture. Flower appearance: lotus-form narcissus petals, pale green, fresh and pretty, thick and glutinous in texture, straight-line shoulder, soft silkworm-moth central petals, large ruyi tongue. The flower is large, with a diameter of more than two cun as in the photo. The flower stem is a green stalk, slender and tall, about one chi six or seven cun long. The flower form is also beautiful, imposing and dignified, and it still retains the reputation of a precious variety today.

Shanghaimei：

    During the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty, it was selected and bred by Li Liangbin of Shanghai. Hence it is named "Shanghaimei," also called "Qian Shanghaimei" or "Lao Shanghaimei." Shanghaimei's leaf posture is semi-drooping, the leaf frame is high, the leaf width is about 1 cm, and the length is 40-50 cm. The leaf margins curl inward in a "U" shape, and the leaf color is deep green and glossy. Shanghaimei's flower stalk is tall and level with the leaf frame, bearing 5-8 flowers. The three outer petals have long feet and round tips, are flat-shouldered and open while embracing, and the petals are pale green, with tight edges and thick texture. The central petals embrace and are round and neat, with a small ruyi tongue, and the red spots on the tongue are deep in color. The flower form is medium, with an open diameter of about 3.5 cm. The flower quality is well-balanced and proper, with good bone strength. When strong plants bloom, the form of the three outer petals is even better, and they can open with flying shoulders, with excellent charm.

Panlümei：