A Comprehensive Interpretation of Orchid Award Rules and Standards
History: A new flower of Huilan (Cymbidium faberi) discovered during Qingming Festival in 1999, collected by Mr. Zhou of the mountain city of Shennongjia, Hubei, from Shennong, Hubei. Selected and named by Mr. Zhenshui Wuxiang. Characteristics: Leaves broad and thick, arching in shape, leaf color deep green and glossy; flower scape slender and round, rising above the leaves, flower spike tender green tinged with purple, flower stalks and flower buds both purplish-red tinged with green; flower color pure...
1. Subtle fragrance (intermittent, as if present yet not) Superior grade
2. Fresh fragrance Superior grade
3. Imitative fragrance (osmanthus, jasmine...) Medium grade
4. Light fragrance, strong fragrance Medium grade
5. No fragrance, no scent Inferior grade
6. Foul odor Poor variety
II. Examining Texture and Color
1. Texture glutinous, color brilliant, crystal-clear Superior grade
2. Texture glutinous, color not pure yet delicate and beautiful Medium grade
3. Texture thin and soft, colored but lacking substance Inferior grade
4. Texture coarse, dry and harsh, murky Poor grade
III. Observing Form and Appearance
Only when the forms of leaf, scape and flower are harmoniously matched can it be considered superior grade.
1. Leaf shape: Jade-green leaves, elegant and graceful with beautiful curves; blue-green blade-like leaves, proud and upright, tall and elegant. Superior grade
Leaf shape chaotic and irregular Inferior grade
2. Form of flower scape and flower stalk
Flower scape slender and round, tall and upright, flower large with slender stem, flower stalk long and ascending, commonly known as lamp-wick scape. Superior grade
Thick scape, long stalk Medium grade
Woody scape, short stalk Inferior grade
Chicken-foot scape, bamboo-chopstick scape, etc. Poor variety
3. Flower spacing
Flower spacing open and well-spaced, flowers not tightly crowded, proper form, superior grade.
Flowers tightly crowded, clustered with top-heavy appearance, large at top and bottom with a cluster in the middle, embracing the scape inward, blooming upward and the like, poor variety.
4. Form of proper-form flowers
Outer three petals: main petal upright, shoulders level, petals round, edges tight, arching and embracing. Center: lip petals separated at base and embracing together neatly, lip large and relaxed, red spots evenly distributed in pattern, column hidden. Flower large, inner and outer whorls proportionate, flowers spreading elegantly, flowers spreading and turning in all four directions, beautiful from every angle, this is superior grade.
5. Form of variant-form flowers
Only when fixed in shape, fixed in form and fixed in grade is it superior grade; otherwise, in descending order, medium grade, inferior grade, poor variety.
IV. Observing Flower Endurance
Flower shape set within 5 days of blooming, shape unchanged at 10 days, color not fading is considered enduring; still standing elegantly at half a month is good flower endurance, superior grade.
V. Appreciating Spiritual Charm
Huilan possesses the air of a scholar-official, proud and upright, dignified and spirited, elegant yet disciplined, overall charming and beautiful, delicate and moving, beauty with form yet endless in meaning, this is superior grade with excellent spiritual charm; otherwise, in descending order, medium grade, inferior grade, poor variety.
VI. Cultivation Quality
Plant healthy, posture perfect; otherwise, if the plant has scorched tips, black spots, damaged plants and withered leaves, even if the flower quality is good it is difficult to rate as superior grade.
VII. Variegated Leaf Varieties
Variegated-leaf varieties are judged by the merits of their variegation position, variegation form, variegation direction and variegation character as standards, while also considering the contrast of variegation colors in evaluation. For odd-leaf, dwarf varieties and the like, besides evaluating the merits of form, emphasis is placed on examining texture; having form but no substance is rated as poor variety.