What are the differences between the latest Bingdeng Yulu and Jiyulu?
There are many varieties and horticultural forms of Yulu (Haworthia cooperi), and common ones include large Yulu, Jiyulu, obtuse-leaf Yulu, white-spotted Yulu, hairy Yulu, Di Yulu, flat-leaf Yulu, Bingdeng Yulu, variegated Yulu, and other cultivars. Today we will introduce the differences between Bingdeng Yulu and Jiyulu!
What is Bingdeng Yulu?
Bingdeng Yulu is mainly divided into Pan's Bingdeng Yulu and Sun's Bingdeng Yulu. Nowadays, in general popular usage, Bingdeng Yulu basically defaults to Pan's Bingdeng Yulu, also known as Pandeng. This Yulu cultivar belongs to the Liliaceae family, Haworthia genus (also called the wacheon genus) succulent plants, and is one of the finest among the soft-leaf Haworthia varieties——the purple-bodied Yulu line. It gets its name because its fleshy leaves are crystal clear and bright, as clear and transparent as an ice lantern.
What is Jiyulu?
A succulent plant of the Liliaceae family, Haworthia genus, native to South Africa. Its fleshy leaves are arranged in a compact rosette, with thick, plump, emerald green leaves. The upper half is transparent or semi-transparent, so it is also called a "window plant". Because this type of plant generally buries most of its body under the soil in its native habitat, exposing only the windowed part above ground, it avoids the dry, hot summer growing environment. It has dark linear vein markings; under conditions of relatively sufficient sunlight, its veins are brown, and the leaf tips have fine “whiskers”.
Differences between Bingdeng Yulu and Jiyulu
| Category | Bingdeng Yulu | Jiyulu |
| Leaf morphology | Leaf margins have hairy spines, apex hairless | Leaf margins have no hairy spines, apex has one long hair |
| Plant size | Plant diameter can reach 7~8 cm | Smaller plant type, diameter about 3~4 cm |
| Whether it produces offsets | Basically does not produce offsets, | Easily produces offsets, can grow into multi-headed clustered plants, |
| Window surface pattern | Bingdeng Yulu's window surface is very transparent, glossy and moist | Window surface transparency is inferior to Bingdeng Yulu |
| Window surface pattern | The dark markings on the window surface do not reach the top of the window | The dark markings on the window surface can reach the top of the window |
| Leaf tip characteristics | Leaf tip is relatively flat | Leaves are more pointed and more rounded |
| Color under strong light | Leaf color turns purple under strong light | Leaf color turns deep red under strong light |
| Market price | Expensive, rare | Relatively cheap |
Note: Because both Jiyulu and Bingdeng are horticultural cultivars, both can be continuously selected by humans. For example, Jiyulu also includes ones without a tip hair; or purple ones (which can be called Purple Jiyulu). Bingdeng is a more personified cultivar than Jiyulu. At present (2015), Japan's horticultural level is higher than our country's, and some of their Yulu are very beautiful. In the future, they may continue to develop toward vivid coloring, larger size, transparency, and roundness. After all, the Chinese are a people who love fine jade, and it is believed that future horticultural Yulu will embody more of the essence of jade culture.