Introduction to the characteristics of the Chun Jian orchid cultivar Shuangxi Mei

   In the spring of 1995, it was found in the mountain forests of the Micang remnant range in Tongjiang, Sichuan. When collected on the mountain, there were only 2 shoots together with 4 old pseudobulbs. Liao Jiafa, chairman of the Sichuan Shudu Orchid Industry Association, purchased and cultivated it alone, and it was officially named and registered in 2002.

   The new shoots of "Shuangxi Mei" are purplish red, with jade-white tips at the bud apex. The leaf sheaths are tall, opening opposite each other in an "eight" shape. The sheath tips are tightly pressed and the tip is strong and upright; when touched with a finger, it has a prickly feel, commonly called "iron armor." In the middle of the leaf sheath, there is often a pair rotating 30 degrees and forking upward. The plant form is spreading, and the leaves are arranged neatly like a fan. The leaf stalks are tightly contracted and long, closely resembling fan ribs. The cross-section of the leaf blade is a shallow "V" shape. On the leaf surface there are two shallow longitudinal ridges running parallel and merging into the nasal ridge area. The leaf tip margin is slightly tightened, forming a shallow spoon shape. The leaf veins are embedded and strong. The leaf texture has fine serrations. The leaf width is about 1.2 to 1.5 cm, and the leaf length is about 35 to 45 cm. The leaf posture is high and sloping, with the leaf tips semi-pendant, vigorous yet graceful.

   "Shuangxi Mei" blooms frequently. The flower buds are bright purplish red, and the bract tips are adorned with green dots and jade, commonly called "red shell, green tip, white jade hook." The flower buds are round, full, and dignified, empty at the top and full at the base, commonly called "sparrow beak hollow head." The bracts are tightly bound, layered with green and color. The small bracteoles on the ovary have heavy purplish red sand-like speckling, with bright green color. One scape bears 2-4 flowers. When in bud, if the bud is peeled open, the head shape is a "melon-seed mouth." The flower stalk is about one cun long. The flower opens facing forward, a medium-sized flower. The three outer sepals are rounded, finely tapering at the base, forming a "peach-shoulder shape," that is, with a notch at the sepal tip. The shoulders are level, the sepals round, with only the three sepals slightly drifting. Among Chinese orchid plum and immortal flower-art cultivars, if the sepal tips drift slightly but do not curl upward, and if the sepal bases do not drift or curl, then as a "refined drift" within the drifting category it can still be ranked as superior; conversely, "martial drift" types rank lower. The petals of "Shuangxi Mei" are white jade soft silkworm-moth petals, with the five petals separated into compartments. The petals are smooth, clean, and rounded. The petals have the wonderful effect of bringing the painting to life. The lip is extended, drooping but not rolling, in a "Liu Hai" shape. The front end of the lip has a tiny notch, commonly called a "double-fork Liu Hai tongue." On the lip there are two red dots, matching the red dots on the inner side of the petals, conforming to the eight-character standard of the inner whorl, namely: short petals, relaxed tongue, contained column, and correctly placed dots. The flower color of "Shuangxi Mei" is very lovely. The petal base is white, crystal-clear, and translucent. The scape and stalk are green, the scape round and tall, the flowers held upright, with a lofty bearing and unique charm. This conforms to the final eight-character standard for Chinese orchid flower art, namely: lovely color, glutinous texture, tall scape, and upright flowers.

    Among Chinese orchids, those with multiple flowers on one scape may all be called Hui. Among Hui flowers, those whose buds show red are called red, while the flowers are green, commonly called "red turning green." Yet very few can turn completely clean in flower color, especially among "Chun Jian" cultivars. Not only can the flower color turn clean, green, and lovely, but the flower scape and flower stalk also turn green. Therefore the flower color is especially clear, elegant, and bright, and the flower form is upright, with a contained mouth and relaxed tongue, and the outer whorl "refined drift," dynamic within stillness, giving a sense of elegance and dignity. It is truly a superior product among clever cultivars of refined-drift double-fork-tongue plum-type red-turning-green. The red on the petals and tongue, both completing their form, is why it is named "Shuangxi," and its grade is classified as plum, making the name appropriate. This flower can be a variety passed down through generations. If Chun Jian has a history, "Shuangxi Mei" should be entered into the records.

     I do not know whether the above appreciation and comments are appropriate. Coming from the East to the West to seek guidance, I hope the advanced members of the orchid circles in this department will tolerate my laughter and grant instruction.

(Author, Ding Yongkang    written on orchids in Sichuan, Pixian, No. 34 Xiwai Street)