Orchid terminology explained in detail, making it easy to understand common professional orchid terms

Pailing - the young buds of cymbidium are commonly called bells. When the flower stalk has grown to a certain height, each young small flower bell grows on it, upright and close to the flower stalk; this form is called small pailing. When the young bell flower stalks leave the stalk and extend horizontally in level arrangement, it is called large pailing; at this time the flower is about to open its petals and gradually bloom.

Upper overlap and lower overlap - when the phoenix eye appears, the top cover on both sides of the back of the petals is called upper overlap, and below the breast is called lower overlap.

Phoenix eye - before the outer three petals open, the tips of the main petal and side petals connect with each other, and on one side of the main petal and side petals the petal edges rise mutually while a gap appears in the middle, exposing the base of the lip below, and the side of the inner petals can be seen in the middle; this area is called the phoenix eye. If the phoenix eye is large and the upper overlap is deep, the petals are necessarily broad and have a cup, and the shoulder does not droop.

Stalk - namely the flower stem of the orchid. That of spring orchid (Cymbidium goeringii) is short and small, generally 0.2 cm thick, and those above 10 cm are superior. If it is short and shrinks among the leaves on the pot surface, it is hard to see because of covering, which harms its elegance (except for Gaihe among short-leaf types). The flower stem of cymbidium is sturdier and taller, generally with a stem 0.3 cm thick and over 20 cm tall considered superior. According to traditional evaluation, cymbidium values large flowers with fine stems, commonly called lamp-rush stems; if small flowers have thick stems, commonly called wooden stems, they belong to inferior grade. Flower stems are always judged by being straight and round as the standard. As for color, among spring orchids those with green stem and green flower are superior, such as Song Mei and Lü Ying; among cymbidiums, the flower stem of Dayipin is white-green like jade, with a tall stem and large flower, making it one of the most elegant varieties in cymbidium. Among red cymbidiums, those with thick and straight stems are good, for example Cheng Mei has a thick and upright stem, quite spectacular. Although fine and round flower stems are considered superior, this is relative; as long as they match the flower shape, they still count as superior. Regarding the color of the flower stem of baosui lan, according to Guang Qun Fang Pu: "Purple stem with green flower is superior, green stem with green flower is next, purple stem with purple flower is again next, and the rest do not enter the grades."

Vermilion dot - the color must be vivid, clear, bright, and evenly distributed to be considered superior, and able to arouse an aesthetic feeling in people. The red dots on the lip of spring orchid may be one dot, two dots, or in a pin-shaped arrangement, and also block-shaped or ingot-shaped; the red dots and blocks on the lip of cymbidium and others differ from those of spring orchid, mostly scattered dots and blocks, dense, and darker in color.

Column - namely the columnar stamen. Its shape should be small and flat so that the petals can nest tightly and the flower shape can be handsome and spirited. If the column shape is thick and large (commonly called big nose), then the two petals will inevitably be pushed open, a form commonly called "opening a skylight," and no matter how good the three-petal flower shape is, it cannot be considered superior.

Moss - namely the velvety substance attached to the lip. Even, fine, and of glutinous color is superior, while coarse and dark is inferior. Green and white are superior, and slightly yellow is next.

Petals - namely the two short petals among the inner three that stand upright and draw close outward in the middle (slightly shorter than the outer three petals). Petals are mainly judged by being smooth and clean, and by form they can be divided into:

Silkworm moth petal - shaped like a silkworm moth. It is further divided into hard and soft types, for example among spring orchids Lü Ying, Rongxiang Mei, Liangxi Mei, Yichun Xian, etc.; among cymbidiums Dayipin, Peixian, Dangzi, Loumei, Duanmei, Cuimei, Qinghua, etc.

Guanyin petal - (commonly called Guanyin cup) shaped like the hat brim of the Bodhisattva Guanyin in mythology, with a cup form at the front edge, such as Longzi and Chunyipin among spring orchids, and Laoranz i among cymbidiums, etc.

Bean shell petal - the tip of the petal is relatively round and blunt, the petal flesh is thick, with a cup shape, resembling one end of a broad bean shell, such as Guanding among cymbidiums.

Clam shell petal - each petal is concave inside and convex outside like an empty clam shell, such as Changshu and Dakui He among spring orchids, and Taisu among cymbidiums, etc.

Scissors petal - the petals are shaped like scissors, such as Wentuan Su among spring orchids, and Huazi and Chituanzi among cymbidiums.

Crab claw petal - the middle of the back of the petal is raised, and the tip is flat and cupped, with Wannian Mei among cymbidiums being the most typical.

Cat ear petal - the front part of the petal turns upward, shaped like a cat's ear, such as Fengqiao and Duoyun among cymbidiums.

Short round petal - the petals are short and round, and the arc of the petal back is relatively large, such as Zheng Tong He.

Palm leaf petal - the petals are short and round, but the arc of the petal back is relatively small, such as Xishen Mei among spring orchids.

Chime mouth petal - although the petals have no cup shape, the petal tip edge slightly has a chime-mouth form, for example Gaihe among spring orchids.

According to the growth posture of the petals, some two petals are separated from each other or partly connected, or even mixed and stuck together with the column and lip, so they can also be divided into three forms:

Five petals separated - the two petals are each separate, and the base of the petals is borne where the bases of the outer three petals meet.

Split tips and joined backs - the tips of the two petals are separated from each other, while from the middle to the petal base they are joined into a whole.

Joined shoulders and joined backs - the petals are joined with the column and lip into a block-like whole, or the tips of the petals have a trace of slight separation from the column, for example this form often appears in Cai Mei Narcissus among spring orchids and Pan Lü among cymbidiums.

Among the three petal growth forms, the five petals separated form is the most elegant, split tips and joined backs is next, and joined shoulders and joined backs is the most inferior.

Orchid ointment - also called life dew. When cymbidium flowers turn their stems and reach full bloom, at the end of the flower stalk (near the scape) there is a drop of fine, round, crystal-clear gelatinous substance, sweet and mellow like honey. If wiped away at will, it easily causes the flower to wither early and lose spirit. Orchid ointment is rarely seen in spring orchids, or if occasionally present, it is only a tiny dot.

Shooting arrow - after the flower stem of the orchid emerges from the bud sheath, it gradually grows taller; this process is commonly called shooting arrow.

Daughter bud - the young small leaf bud growing from the base of the pseudobulb, commonly called daughter bud. When the daughter bud just emerges from the soil, all green-flowered types and plain-heart petal tips are white-green; if it is a red-green sheath or mercury-red sheath type, the bud tip is slightly red; if it is a red sheath type, it is all red-purple. Daughter buds that break through the soil around the time of "entering the mold" are the strongest; those that break through the soil during "summer dog days" are weaker; if they grow as late as mid-autumn, the daughter buds are commonly called "autumn stalks," small and thin, and the resulting leaf clusters are also short, small, and narrow.

Sand and halo - fine dust-like tiny dots scattered among the veins are called sand; dense ones like thick smoke or heavy mist are called halo. If there is sand and halo on the bud sheath, plum petals and narcissus petals mostly appear. If the sand on the bud sheath is dense like apricot down, and when the flower bud gradually elongates the tip of the bud also shows dense green, then most produce plum-form narcissus petals. If the sand and halo are soft, and the color is either white or green, most produce plain-heart petals. All famous flowers with petal forms, besides having fine and glutinous veins reaching the tip and top on their bud sheath, must also have sand and halo.

Sheath - namely the bract leaves. It has many colors, such as green sheath, white sheath, red turning green, mercury red, red sheath, etc. But because of the depth of vein color and the reflection of sand and halo, there are also deep green, pale blue, bamboo-leaf green, bamboo-root green, powder blue, green hemp sheath, white hemp sheath, red hemp sheath, lotus color, deep purple, pig-liver red sheath, and so on. Among them, mercury red sheath, green sheath, and red turning green sheath most easily produce famous flowers. In addition, sheaths differ in looseness and tightness, thickness and thinness. According to the experience summarized by our country's orchid-growing predecessors, no matter which color sheath, good flowers may appear, but the complexion must be bright and vivid, and only thin and hard sheaths with glutinous color count as superior; if the sheath is thin and soft, it is called "rotten clothing," and superior flowers rarely appear; if the sheath is thick and hard, with soft and glutinous color, good flowers also repeatedly appear.

Sheaths differ in length and shortness, commonly called long-tip sheath and short-tip sheath. If the middle of a short-tip sheath is rich and thick in color, the tip has a fleshy hook, and the bud tip is also magpie-beak shaped, plum petals and narcissus petals mostly appear. If the sheath is long and the bud tip is blunt, most produce lotus-form narcissus petals. If green veins and green sheath, or white veins and green sheath, with fine and delicate veins, crystal clear, and reaching the tip and top, and with sand, halo, and sheath, veins, and hemp all the same color, plain-heart petals often appear. If the belly of the cymbidium bud sheath is covered with sand and halo among the veins, and also has bead-like protrusions, plum petals and narcissus petals repeatedly appear, but the sheath color must not be too clearly glossy. If the cymbidium flower bud sheath is tight, round, and sturdy, with a full lower part, it generally opens lotus-form large-petal flowers.

Veins - namely the slender vein lines on the bract leaves. Veins differ in length, density, thickness, flatness, protrusion, and color. Veins are always judged by being slender, reaching the top, soft and moist, sparse rather than dense, and slightly glossy, and then petal-form flower qualities often appear. If the veins are thick and reach the top, the petals must be broad, and lotus petals appear. If green veins and green sheath, or white sheath and green veins, with every vein reaching the tip and top, and the whole bud sheath crystal clear, then there is a high possibility that plain-heart petals will mostly appear. The veins of plum petals and narcissus petals are relatively fine and glutinous, and the middle must also be covered with sand and halo.

Bract - namely the one among the several layers of bract leaves that clings closely to the flower, also called the flesh-clinging small bract. In famous spring orchid varieties, this kind of bract leaf appears rounder, broader, thicker, larger, and longer than in other orchids. Some are borne behind the main petal, some grow at one side, and some are far from the flower and borne on the front of the flower stalk. The inner clinging small bract of cymbidium, jianlan, qiulan, hanlan, and baosui lan is always borne at the end of each short small flower stalk, and its base is half rolled and wrapped around the flower stalk, while its front half is expanded and open, and the bract width is narrow. All famous flowers with various petal forms must have a flesh-clinging small bract showing strong unusual color and also luster, most obvious in spring orchid. If the color is pale and the texture thin, the petal flesh is also thin; if one side has unusual color and the other does not, then one side of the petal has a cup and the other side does not.

Hemp - short veins on the bract leaves that do not reach the tip and top are called hemp. Hemp differs in thickness, length, and evenness, and is relatively closely arranged, commonly called hemp network; if the spaces between them are wide and sparse, and also covered with unusual-color sand and halo, then strange petals or unusual-type plain-heart petals often appear. Because hemp differs in color, it can be divided into green hemp, red hemp, white hemp, brown hemp, etc. It is also divided into deep and light according to how early or late the flower bud emerges from the soil.