Where is the place of origin of the Lianbanlan (Cymbidium tortisepalum) cultivar Huili He?
The famous Lianbanlan cultivar Huili He has flower buds and leaf buds both marked with purplish-red veining; the flower scape is about 20 cm tall, the outer petals are round and broad with a narrowed base and flared tips, the petal-like lips clasp tightly, and it has a large round tongue. The flower shape is elegant and beautiful, with great ornamental value. It won the gold award at the 15th China (Leshan) Orchid Expo. Lianbanlan is a terrestrial orchid mainly produced in the northwestern region of Yunnan Province, China, and it blooms around New Year's Day and the Spring Festival each year. The petals of this orchid are elliptical in shape, closely resembling the petals of a blooming lotus root flower. People used one flower to describe another, naming it "Lianbanlan" (lotus-petal orchid), and it is deeply favored by Chinese orchid enthusiasts.
Lianbanlan is mainly produced in the western part of Yunnan, and is renowned both at home and abroad for representative cultivars such as "Daxuesu" and "Xiaoxuesu", which have a long cultivation history in Dali, Eryuan, Lijiang, Jianchuan and other places, as well as newly developed ones in recent years such as "Jianyangdie", "Huangjin Haian", "Cangshan Qidie", "Qihuasu", "Dianmei", "Lijiang Xingdie", "Yutu Caidie" and "Taoyuan Die", which has also greatly raised the profile of Lianbanlan in China's orchid circles. Huili County, Sichuan Province, is located at the junction of Sichuan and Yunnan, bordering Yunnan to the southwest along the Jinsha River. The discovery of Lianbanlan there occurred in the early 1990s, and "Yipengxue", "Fuse Longzi", "Huili Hedie", "Danxin Ruide", as well as "Ximei", "Huadie", "Jinlian", "Chunhe", "Jiaomei", "Diebansu" and "Huili Hesu" are all among its rare and precious new cultivars. The term "Lianban" has appeared in historical records for more than 100 years, but it has been established as an orchid genus and species for only just over 50 years. It can be said that Lianbanlan is a rising star in China's orchid garden, with broad prospects for development.
