Dafengsu Jianlan (Cymbidium ensifolium) Variety Introduction and Appreciation Highlights

Dafengsu has the characteristics of a unique leaf posture, fragrant flowers held above the foliage, the strongest adaptability, and the highest sprouting rate; moreover, because its leaf texture is thin, it very easily produces variegated lines and unusual leaves, thus making it a must-have flagship variety for orchid growers, deeply loved by orchid enthusiasts, and highly praised in orchid literature through the ages.

Dafengsu is the abbreviated name of Dafengweisu. Its leaves are mostly twisted like the elegant tail feathers of a large rooster, and since the rooster was called "feng" (phoenix) in ancient times, it was named for the combination of its leaf form and its fully solid-colored flowers. Because its leaves have high gloss, it is also called "Runye Fengweisu" (Glossy-Leaf Phoenix-Tail Solid); and because its leaf texture is rather thin and fine and soft, easily drooping all around the rim of the pot, it is also called "Riyue Chui" (Sun-Moon Droop); and because the vast majority of its leaves curl and droop toward all sides of the pot, while the center of the pot is empty like a round-mouthed well, and the flower scape stands straight up right from the empty round opening in the center of the pot, shaped like a dragon spraying water flowers, it is also called "Longjing Su" (Dragon Well Solid); and moreover, because its leaves often twist in a variant "S" shape, when a breeze blows or the hand gently shakes it, a single leaf sways in three different directions in three segments, it is also called "Sanyao Su" (Three-Sway Solid). Dafengsu's leaf posture is elegant and unusual, uniquely distinctive, and it can be considered the finest named variety for leaf posture among solid-colored Jianlan.

Characteristics: Dafengsu, root diameter 0.6-0.8 cm, length 15-26 cm, soft, moist and white; pseudobulb oval, dark green. Leaf petiole relatively short; leaf length 46-68 cm, width 1.6-2.5 cm; main and lateral leaf veins convex on the back, vein grooves obvious; leaf serrations extremely fine, leaf margin slightly rolled back; the blunt-tipped portion of the leaf apex has double arrow-shaped imprints (also called leaf grooves) on both sides of the main vein, and new leaves are covered with keel-node-shaped green markings.

Dafengsu's first flowering period is in midsummer, full bloom in early autumn, and the final flowering period is late autumn. The inflorescence has 7 to 9 flowers, the flower scape upright and exposed above the entire spread of foliage, and often concentrated at the center of the pot, greatly presenting the elegance of emerald-green phoenix leaves holding up a standard-form, elegant, solid-colored large flower. The flower grade belongs to the narcissus petal category, and it is a drooping-shoulder flower type; the top sepal is large with a constricted base and flared angles, the lateral sepals droop at the shoulders, the petals half cover the column, appearing like an open skylight; the lip belongs to the large spread tongue type. Flower diameter 7-9 cm, petal color pure white with a faint emerald-green tinge; the petals, column, and lip are on the lighter side in color. The fragrance is rich and mellow, deep and far-reaching.