Characteristics of the Chunlan (Cymbidium goeringii) cultivar Chuzhou He
I once saw the actual flower at the 2011 Fuyang Orchid Show. Was that its first public appearance? The lotus-type foliage characteristics are obvious, and the flower is distinctive too. As I recall, this cultivar's foliage is tall and upright, as if the wild mountain spirit has not yet faded. The flower scape is also relatively tall, and the flower form is large. The bracts are pale white-green, marked with sparse purplish-red vein lines. The three outer petals are broad, large and thick, with narrowed bases and flared tips, and the form is upright with a fairly good cupped embrace. The flower color is a clean emerald green, with faint, indistinct green vein lines. The lips are of the qingkou (chinless) type, with several radiating red lines on the inner side. The tongue is large and round, bearing 5 orderly arranged red lines that are especially striking. However, the two lips open slightly at the top like a skylight, and the central column feels a bit loose, making the column too conspicuous; fortunately, the three outer petals hold a proper, unadorned stance, so it does not lose its classic character within its pleasing appearance. The overall form is properly proportioned. Form and spirit support each other, enough to delight the eye.
I once saw the actual flower at the 2011 Fuyang Orchid Show. Was that its first public appearance?
The lotus-type foliage characteristics are obvious, and the flower is distinctive too. As I recall, this cultivar's foliage is tall and upright, as if the wild mountain spirit has not yet faded. The flower scape is also relatively tall, and the flower form is large. The bracts are pale white-green, marked with sparse purplish-red vein lines. The three outer petals are broad, large and thick, with narrowed bases and flared tips, and the form is upright with a fairly good cupped embrace. The flower color is a clean emerald green, with faint, indistinct green vein lines. The lips are of the qingkou (chinless) type, with several radiating red lines on the inner side. The tongue is large and round, bearing 5 orderly arranged red lines that are especially striking. However, the two lips open slightly at the top like a skylight, and the central column feels a bit loose, making the column too conspicuous; fortunately, the three outer petals hold a proper, unadorned stance, so it does not lose its classic character within its pleasing appearance. The overall form is properly proportioned. Form and spirit support each other, enough to delight the eye.
So far, no other Chunlan lotus-petal flower has been seen with so many red line-like markings on its tongue. I wonder whether this characteristic is stable? If it blooms this way year after year, it should be a major highlight of this flower and also a clear marker distinguishing it from other lotus-petal flowers. Recently, at Mr. Mao Peiqing's place in Jinyun, I saw this lotus-type foliage plant once again.