A Complete Glossary of Orchid Appreciation Terms and Their Meanings

1. Color Although the colors of terrestrial orchids are relatively uniform and plain, lacking the seductive brilliance of other flowers, their quiet, subdued hues and elegant charm are unmatched by ordinary flowers. According to tradition in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, among the orchid and cymbidium varieties, green is considered best, with tender green ranked first, old green second, yellow-green next, and red-green even lower. For all red-flowered varieties, those with a sticky, glutinous color are considered superior, while those with dim color tinged with purple are inferior. For other types of orchids, the evaluation of color varies from place to place.

2. Shoulders Among the three outer petals of an orchid, the central upright petal is called the main petal, and the two petals arranged horizontally to the left and right are called the lateral petals. The so-called "shoulders" specifically refers to the posture of the lateral petals: the first type is horizontal, called "one-character shoulders," which is superior; the second type, when the petals open, the two lateral petals droop slightly, called "drooping shoulders," which is inferior; the third type is when the flower has just fully bloomed and the lateral petals droop dramatically, forming a triangle with the main petal, called "great drooping shoulders," "three-legged horse," or "character-eight frame." If it takes this form, even if the petal shape and flower quality are excellent, due to the poor posture of the three outer petals, it is not worth considering and is considered inferior; the fourth type is when the lateral petals tilt slightly upward, called "flying shoulders," which is a precious form.

3. Petals (Lip-Petals) These are the two short petals (slightly shorter than the three outer petals) that stand upright and close together in the middle of the three inner petals. The petals should be primarily smooth and clean. According to their form, they can be divided into:

Silkworm Moth Petals Shaped like a silkworm moth. They are further divided into hard and soft types. Examples include Green Ying, Rongxiang Mei, Liangxi Mei, and Yichun Xian among spring orchids; and Dayi Pin, Peixian, Dangzi, Loumei, Duanmei, Cuimei, and Qinghua among cymbidiums.

Guanyin Petals (commonly called Guanyin Hood) Shaped like the Guanyin Bodhisattva in mythology, with a hood-like front edge on the cap. Examples include Longzi and Chunyipin among spring orchids, and Lao Ranzi among cymbidiums.

Bean Shell Petals The tips of the petals are relatively round and blunt, the petal flesh is thick, with a hood-like shape, resembling one end of a broad bean shell. An example is Guanding among cymbidiums.

Clam Shell Petals Each petal is concave inward and convex outward like an empty clam shell. Examples include Changshu and Dakui He among spring orchids, and Tai Su among cymbidiums.

Scissors Petals The petals are shaped like scissors. Examples include Wentuan Su among spring orchids, and Huazi and Chituanzi among cymbidiums.

Crab Claw Petals The middle of the petal's back is raised, and the tip is hooded and flattened. The most typical example is Wannian Mei among cymbidiums.

Cat Ear Petals The front portion of the petals turns upward, shaped like cat ears. Examples include Fengqiao and Duoyun among cymbidiums.

Short Round Petals The petals are short and round, with a relatively large arc on the back. An example is Zheng Tong He.

Fan Petals The petals are short and round, but the arc on the back is relatively small. An example is Xishen Mei among spring orchids.

Chime Mouth Petals Although the petals have no hood shape, the petal tip edges have a slight chime-mouth shape. An example is Gai He among spring orchids.

Among the various petal forms described above, silkworm moth petals are superior, Guanyin petals are next, and the rest are inferior. Of course, this must also be considered in combination with each type of petal shape. In addition, regarding the posture of the petals, some have the two petals separated from each other or partially connected, or even mixed and stuck together with the nose (column) and tongue (lip). Therefore, they can be further divided into three forms:

Five-Petal Separate Nest The two petals are separated from each other, with their bases attached at the point where the bases of the three outer petals converge.

Separate Tips, Joined Backs The tips of the two petals are separated from each other, but from the middle to the base they are joined as a whole.

Joined Shoulders, Joined Backs The petals are joined with the nose and tongue into a block-like whole, or the tips of the petals have a slight trace of separation from the nose. For example, this form often appears in Cai Mei Narcissus among spring orchids and Pan Lu among cymbidiums.

Among the three petal postures described above, sometimes the same variety, due to genetic variation, can have both five-petal separate nest and separate tips joined backs, but joined shoulders joined backs is limited to only a few varieties. Generally speaking, the five-petal separate nest form is the most beautiful, separate tips joined backs is next, and joined shoulders joined backs is the most inferior.

4. Tongue This is the lip petal, located below the column. Its shapes can be distinguished as follows:

1. Liu Hai Tongue The tongue shape is round and upright, tilting slightly upward, with a slight hood at the tip. Examples include Song Mei and Xishen Mei among spring orchids, and Peixian among cymbidiums. However, due to humidity during the flowering period or fertilizer effects, the tongue tip may also appear slightly drooping.

2. Large Round Tongue The tongue is large and round, tilting slightly downward. Examples include Tang Mei, Wangzi, Xiaoda, Yuepei, Cuiyipin, and Yichun Xian among spring orchids, and Rongmei among cymbidiums.

3. Ruyi Tongue The tongue shape resembles the head of a jade-carved ruyi ornament, hanging flat and not curling. Examples include Qin Mei, Yuanhu Diyi Mei, Taiyuan Mei, Green Ying, Tianlu, and Fangzi among spring orchids, and Dayi Pin, Pan Lu, and Qinghua among cymbidiums.

4. Large Spreading Tongue The tongue shape is slightly larger and longer than the large round tongue, and appears to drag downward. Examples include Longzi, Caiyun Tongle Mei, Taiji, and Xizi (when opening as lotus-form narcissus petals) among spring orchids; and Loumei and Bilian among cymbidiums.

5. Dragon Swallowing Tongue The tongue is stiff and not extended, with the tip edge appearing concave and slightly hooded. The standard is seen in Cheng Mei, Cui Mei, and Jipin among cymbidiums when they open normally.

6. Large Curling Tongue This tongue shape mostly occurs among cymbidiums. The tongue is long and curls backward. Examples include Tai Su, Huazi, Chituanzi, Songjiang Da He, and Wang Yangming Su among cymbidiums.

7. Large Persimmon Tongue The tongue resembles a persimmon shape. An example is Da Chenzi among cymbidiums.

8. Square Notch Tongue The center of the tongue tip appears concave or slightly notched. Examples include Fengqiao and Yixing Shuangshe Mei among cymbidiums.

9. Double Tongue Two lip petals are arranged side by side, a rare form among orchids. An example is Su Die Lian among spring orchids.

The tongue is generally considered superior when short, round, and upright; pointed, narrow, or crooked forms are inferior. The color of the tongue is best when pale green or white (white is prized among spring orchids, green among cymbidiums). According to the experience summarized by Chinese orchid growers regarding petal forms, plum petals with tight edges and hard petals mostly have pointed ruyi tongues or hanging tongues. Large ruyi tongues, Liu Hai tongues, and large round spreading tongues are always able to open fully, but these are only found among plum-form narcissus. As for square-victory tongues and square-board tongues, their flowers are mostly slightly wrinkled; notched tongues come from wrinkled-corner origins. Additionally, a tongue that does not extend within the petals is called a flat tongue; one leaning to one side is called a crooked tongue; one that extends but does not curl is called a dragging tongue. These are all inferior among tongues. If the tongue is stuck together with the nose, it is called no tongue, which is even more inferior. When newly purchased from an orchid vendor as a newly collected wild flower (that is, a naturally wild orchid just dug from the mountain that year), if the tongue shape is round, large, and drooping, it is unlikely to deteriorate when it blooms again the following year.

5. Moss This refers to the velvety substance attached to the tongue. Uniform, fine, and glutinous-colored is superior; coarse and dim-colored is inferior. Green and white are superior, slightly yellow is next. As for entirely red moss color, it did not exist in traditional Chinese orchids, but has now been discovered.

6. Nose This is the column. Its shape must be small and flat so that the petals can nest tightly and the flower form can be handsome and spirited. If the nose is thick and large (commonly called a big nose), the two petals will inevitably be pushed apart, a form commonly called "opening a skylight." No matter how good the three-petal flower form is, it cannot be considered superior.

7. Red Dots These are the red spots adorning the tongue. Their color must be bright, clear, luminous, and evenly distributed to be considered superior; in short, they must evoke a sense of beauty in the viewer. The red dots on the tongue of spring orchids may be one dot, two dots, or in a triangular arrangement, and may also be block-shaped or ingot-shaped; the red dots and blocks on the tongues of cymbidiums and others differ from those of spring orchids, mostly scattered dots and blocks with high density and deeper color. The tongues of multi-flowered stems are slightly longer and larger than those of spring orchids, and the moss color is more intense, so the colors enhance each other and are even more brilliantly colorful and varied.

8. Stem This is the flower stem of the orchid. Spring orchid stems are short and small, generally 0.2 cm thick; those taller than 10 cm are considered superior. If they are stunted and hidden among the leaves at the pot surface, they are difficult to see and detract from the plant's elegance (except for Gai He among short-leaved varieties). Cymbidium flower stems are stouter and taller; generally those with a stem thickness of 0.3 cm and a height of more than 20 cm are superior. Summer orchids and New Year orchids have even thicker and taller flower stems. According to traditional evaluation, cymbidiums with large flowers and thin stems are prized, commonly called lamp-wick stems; if small flowers have thick stems, commonly called wooden stems, they are inferior. Flower stems are always judged by being straight and perfectly round. As for color, among spring orchids, those with green stems and green flowers are superior, such as Song Mei and Green Ying; among cymbidiums, Dayi Pin has a flower stem white-green like jade, with a tall stem and large flowers, making it one of the most elegant varieties among cymbidiums. Among red cymbidiums, those with thick, straight stems are preferred; for example, Cheng Mei has a thick, tall, upright stem that is quite spectacular. Although thin, round flower stems are considered superior, this is relative; as long as they match the flower form and type, they are still superior. Regarding the color of New Year orchid flower stems, according to the Guang Qun Fang Pu: "Purple stems with green flowers are superior, green stems with green flowers are next, purple stems with purple flowers are next again, and the rest are not ranked." 

9. Phoenix Eye Before the three outer petals open from the bud, the tips of the main petal and lateral petals overlap each other. At the point where the petal edges on one side of the main petal and lateral petals bulge with a gap in between, the base of the tongue is exposed below, and the side of the 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 will certainly be broad with a hood, and the shoulders will not droop.

10. Upper Overlap and Lower Overlap When the phoenix eye is exposed, the covering area on both sides of the back of the petals is called the upper overlap, and the area below the breast is called the lower overlap.

11. Bell Arrangement The young buds of cymbidiums are commonly called bells. When the flower stem has grown to a certain height, the young small flower bells grow on it in an upright position, closely hugging the stem; this form is called small bell arrangement. When the flower stalks of the young bells extend horizontally away from the stem, arranged horizontally, it is called large bell arrangement; at this point the buds are about to burst and the petals about to spread, gradually coming into full bloom.

12. Stem Turning When a cymbidium is about to enter large bell arrangement, the flower stalk of each flower bell on the stem grows horizontally, with the flower center facing outward; this is called stem turning, commonly known as turning-dig, turning-dang, or turning-body.

13. Central Nest This is the collective term for the overall area of the petals and nose. For plum petals and narcissus petals, the central nest head shape should preferably be tightly nested; for lotus petals and butterfly petals, the central nest is relatively broad and large. In all cases, the central nest must match well with the shape and type of the three outer petals to give the flower an elegant and handsome appearance.

14. Hood This specifically refers to the form of the petal tissue at the tip of the petals, determined by the size, depth, and thickness of the inward-curling shape at the petal tip edges. According to thickness and size, it can be divided into soft hood and hard hood; according to depth, it can be divided into deep hood and shallow hood.

15. Contracting Base and Releasing Corner This specifically refers to the width and narrowness of the three outer petals, which affects the beauty of the flower quality and the posture of the flower form. Gradually narrowing from the central part of the petal toward the petal base is called contracting base; gradually widening from the central part of the petal toward the petal tip, and then gradually narrowing again at about 0.4 cm from the front edge of the petal tip while curling slightly inward, converging into a slight hood shape at the petal tip, this transition area is called releasing corner. The phenomenon of contracting base and releasing corner is most prominent in lotus petals and lotus-form narcissus petals; narcissus petals, because the petals are mostly oblong, are not so obvious; and plum petals, especially the full plum petal type, being perfectly round in shape, have no contracting base or releasing corner.

16. Tight Edge Each of the three outer petals has a petal edge that curls slightly inward, starting from about 0.3 cm from the petal base and becoming more pronounced toward the front of the petal, with the curling band gradually widening and the petal edge thickening, and at the releasing corner extending further to the petal tip and merging with the symmetrical opposite edge, converging into a hood shape. This inward-curling band is called the tight edge. Plum petal tight edges are mostly thick and substantial, narcissus petals slightly thinner, and lotus petals the thinnest (similar to plain lotus petals).

17. Chicken Beak When the flower bud first breaks through the soil, the bud tips are relatively closed together, either tightly pressed together or slightly separated or cracked open; all are called chicken beak. If the bud tip has a white jade hook or an overall fleshy texture, the vast majority will produce plum petals or narcissus petals.

18. Fine Flowers and Common Flowers Flowers with plum, lotus, narcissus, plain-heart, or strange petal types are all called fine flowers; flowers whose three outer petals and petals are all pointed and narrow in chicken-claw or bamboo-leaf shape are all called common flowers or commonly called coarse flowers.

19. Latent Flower Naturally wild orchids that continue to develop flower buds after being potted and cultivated are called latent flowers. Those that produce flower buds again after an interval of several years are called re-flowering.

20. Orchid Paste Also called life dew. When cymbidium flowers turn their stems and reach full bloom, at the end of the flower stalk (near the flower stem), there is a drop of fine, round, crystal-clear gelatinous substance. It tastes sweet and mellow like honey. If wiped off carelessly, it easily causes the flower to wither prematurely and lose its spirit. Orchid paste is rarely seen in spring orchids, or if occasionally present, it is only a tiny dot.

21. Hairpin Also called short base. This refers to the short small flower stalk of each cymbidium flower.

22. Sheath This is the one among the several layers of bract leaves that closely hugs the flower, also called the flesh-hugging small bract. In famous spring orchid varieties, this bract leaf appears rounder, broader, thicker, and longer than in other orchids. Some are positioned behind the main petal, some grow to one side, and some are positioned away from the flower on the front of the flower stem. The inner small bract of cymbidiums, Jian orchids, autumn orchids, cold orchids, and New Year orchids is always positioned at the end of each short small flower stalk, with its base half-wrapped around the stalk and its front half spreading open, with the sheath narrow in width. The flesh-hugging small bract of all famous flowers with various petal types invariably displays a rich, unusual color and is glossy, most noticeably in spring orchids. If the color is pale and the texture thin, the petal flesh is also thin; if one side has an unusual color and the other does not, then one side of the petals has a hood and the other does not.

23. Clever Type and Official Type Those whose petal tips are white or have a thick fleshy hood are called clever type; those without a white head or with only a slight thin hood are called official type.

24. Stunted Opening Orchid flowers that are soft and limp, with petals stiffly closed and insufficiently extended, are all called stunted opening. This mainly occurs among cymbidiums, where the phenomenon of stunted varieties often appears, such as flowers opening from the top flower first and being weak and powerless, with the lower flowers often stiffly opening or remaining in bud without extending. Another case is when the flowers on the flower stem are arranged too closely together, and the flowers open weakly. All such forms are the most inferior flower postures.

If newly collected wild flowers are potted that year, due to excessive damage to roots and leaves, the flowers on the flower axis cluster densely together, shaped like a feather duster; this is also called ball opening.

25. Bud Tip When the flower bud is about to open, the flower bud protrudes through the small bract to reveal the tip or overall form. According to spring orchids and cymbidiums, there are many forms of bud tips, listed as follows:

1. Spring Orchids

(1) Lotus Seed Shape The upper and lower parts are nearly equal, shaped like a lotus seed. In this form, the three petals are fleshy, with a wrapped tip and heavy white head (that is, the petal tip has a slightly white-haloed fleshy hood), and tight edges. Most open as large-tongue plum petals, with relatively round and upright petals. If the entire bud is white with a delicate, tender color, after the petals fully open they tend to elongate and become wrinkled.

(2) Peanut Flesh Shape The flower bud resembles a peanut kernel, but with a small front end, a large middle, and an elongated shape. If the sheath veins are fine and glutinous, most open as large spreading tongues or plum-form narcissus. Those with heavy white heads and fleshy wrapped tips mostly open as plum petals.

(3) Loom Shuttle Shape The flower bud resembles a weaving shuttle. After the petals open, there are tight edges. If the sheath veins are coarse and hard, most open as hard-petal, pointed-tongue narcissus petals or small ruyi-tongue plum petals.

(4) Olive Shape The flower bud is small at both ends and broad in the middle. If the sheath veins are fine and glutinous, most open as small-tongue narcissus.

(5) Melon Hammer Shape The top of the flower bud is flat and the lower part tapers small. If the sheath veins are slightly hard, most open as separate-tips joined-backs plum petals, or as three-petals-one-nose types. If the veins are fine and glutinous and green in color, and the lower part of the flower bud is broad and large, the tongue shape will certainly be large and the petals also broad.

(6) Round Lamp Shell Shape The flower bud is relatively long and round. The sheath veins are fine and glutinous, each extending to the top. This form mostly opens as wrinkled-corner plum petals or soft-petal slightly wrinkled narcissus petals.

(7) Pure Bottle Mouth Shape The flower bud is slightly long, with the three petal tips converging at the top and the mouth opening. If the sheath veins are fine and glutinous and the color is vivid, most open as wrinkled-petal narcissus.

(8) Pomegranate Mouth Shape The flower bud is round and short, with the three petal tips slightly turning outward. If the sheath veins are coarse and upright, and the vein color is bright, it will certainly open as martial-petal narcissus.

(9) Longan Shape The flower bud is perfectly round and solid. If there is no white head or colored shell, it opens as short round petals; or although the three petals are short, they lack elegance and are not considered precious. This form mostly opens as lotus petal types.

Through the introduction of the various bud forms above, it is easier for orchid enthusiasts to understand the evolution into various petal types and their relative quality from the process of bud form changes, and to use this as a basis for identification when selecting new flowers.

2. Cymbidiums

(1) Clever Type Category

Centipede Pincer The two lateral petals of the flower bud close together in a pincer shape. After the petals open, there are tight edges, thick petal flesh, joined backs and hard petals; this mostly opens as small-tongue plum petals. If separate nest with large tongue, narcissus petals are few; if separate nest with soft petals, most open as large-tongue plum petals, which is the first among superior varieties, such as Pan Lu and Cheng Mei.

Large Flat Cut Flat edges with thick flesh. Large tongue, mostly with separate-nest petals. If separate tips joined backs with hard petals, small-tongue plum petals are few. This form occurs in both plum petals and narcissus petals, and is the second among superior varieties, such as Shanghai Mei and Yuanzi Xian.

Small Flat Cut The three petals are slightly long, with flat edges and round heads. Mostly separate-nest petals with large tongues; if joined backs with hard petals, small tongues are few. Narcissus petals mostly come from this form, which is the third among superior varieties. Examples include Xiaodang and Da Chenzi.

(2) Wrinkled Corner Category

Melon Seed Mouth Broad edges with refined wrinkles; mostly opens as narcissus petals, rarely as plum petals. It is the fourth among superior varieties.

Pomegranate Head Broad edges with martial wrinkles, flying petals, square notched tongue; this type occurs in both plum petals and narcissus petals, and is the fifth among superior varieties. Examples include Fengqiao, Efeng Mei, and Duoyun.

(3) Official Type Category

Official Type Shape The petal hood is shallow and thick.

Slippery Mouth Shape Slightly has a shallow, thin petal hood.

Almond Shape Broad edges, fan petals, small tongue. These are mostly narcissus petals, and are the sixth among superior varieties.

(4) Stunted Opening Category Commonly called putty block. When about to open from the bud, the petals are seen first, and the form appears stiffly stuck together as a whole. When the three outer petals open, the edges curl and the corners wrinkle, unable to extend flat. In all such forms, the petals are mostly fully joined and hard, and there are also separate tips joined backs. If the petals and lip petal are stuck together as one piece, commonly called three petals one nose, this is the most inferior opening among plum petals and narcissus petals.

(5) Common Flower Category All flower buds that are sharply pointed, narrow and long, and after the petals open, the petals all appear pointed and narrow in chicken-claw shape; this form is commonly called coarse flower or common flower, and is an ordinary orchid without petal type. However, if the flower bud is slightly short with a deep upper overlap, sometimes an ordinary lotus petal may appear.

In addition to the above "five categories and eight forms" of bud shapes among cymbidiums, there are still many other forms, but most do not produce superior fine flowers.

26. Veins These are the fine, long vein lines on the bract leaves. Veins vary in length, density, thickness, whether flat or protruding, and color. Veins are generally considered best when fine, long, reaching the top, soft and smooth, sparse rather than dense, and slightly glossy; petal-type flowers often appear. If the veins are coarse and reach the top, the petals will certainly be broad, and lotus petals may appear. If green veins with green shell or white shell with green veins, with vein lines all reaching the tip and top, and the bud shell crystal-clear throughout, there is a high possibility of producing plain-heart petals. The veins of plum petals and narcissus petals are relatively fine and glutinous, and must also be covered with sand and halo in between.

27. Hemp Short veins on the bract leaves that do not reach the tip and top are called hemp. Hemp varies in thickness and length, arranged relatively tightly; this is commonly called hemp network. If the spaces between them are broad and sparse, and covered with unusual-color sand and halo, strange petals or unusual plain-heart petals often appear. Hemp, due to different colors, 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.

28. Sand and Halo Fine, dust-like tiny dots scattered between the vein lines are called sand; dense, thick-smoke-like concentrations are called halo. If the bud shell has sand and halo, most produce plum petals or narcissus petals. If the sand on the bud shell is dense like apricot fuzz, and when the flower bud gradually elongates, the bud tip also appears rich green, the vast majority 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 types, in addition to fine, glutinous veins reaching the tip and top on their bud shells, must also have sand and halo.

29. Shell This refers to the bract leaves. They have many colors, such as green shell, white shell, red-turning-green, mercury red, red shell, etc. However, due to the depth of vein color and the reflection of sand and halo, there are even more: deep green, pale blue, bamboo-leaf green, bamboo-root green, powder blue, green-hemp green shell, white-hemp shell, red-hemp shell, lotus color, deep purple, pig-liver red shell, and so on. Among these, mercury red shell, green shell, and red-turning-green shell most easily produce famous flowers. In addition, shells differ in looseness and tightness, thickness and thinness. According to the experience summarized by our orchid-growing predecessors, no matter which color shell, good flowers can appear, but the color must be vivid, the shell thin and hard, and the color glutinous to be considered superior; if the shell is thin and soft, called "rotten clothing," superior flowers rarely appear; if the shell is thick and hard with a soft, glutinous color, good flowers also frequently appear.

Shells are divided into long and short, commonly called long-tip shell and short-tip shell. If the middle of a short-tip shell is rich and thick in color, the tip has a fleshy hook, and the bud tip also has a magpie-beak shape, most produce plum petals or narcissus petals. If the shell is long and the bud tip is blunt, most produce lotus-form narcissus petals. If green veins with green shell, or white veins with green shell, with fine veins and slender hemp, crystal-clear and reaching the tip and top, and the sand, halo, shell, veins, and hemp are all the same color, plain-heart petals often appear. If the abdomen of the cymbidium bud shell is covered with sand and halo between the vein lines, and there are also bead-like protrusions, plum petals and narcissus petals frequently appear, but the shell color must not be too bright and glossy. If the cymbidium flower bud shell is tightly round and stout, with a full lower part, it generally opens as large-petaled lotus-form flowers.

Through the points of veins, hemp, sand, and halo on the bud shell, one can identify whether newly collected wild flowers are famous flowers or not. Through long-term practice, our orchid-growing predecessors summarized a wealth of experience, enough to serve as reference for us in selecting new flowers with petal-type famous flowers, and still of certain reference value today. The "Various Formulas for Reading Shells" are appended as follows:

1. "A green shell hung all over with green veins, green veins reaching the top, fine and distinct; true blue with rosy halo like mist protecting it, truly genuine, certain to be plain-heart."

"Green veins avoid brightness; there must be sand and halo, necessarily like mist and rosy clouds. The veins should reach the top on a small bud; when the flower is held up, if it looks like crystal in sunlight, it is plain; if dim, it is not."

2. "A gauze robe naturally green is also called good; a large shell with a long tip is no hindrance; pale green vein lines reaching the top, a small robe turning green is certainly extraordinary."

"White shell with green flying tip, green reaching the top, sand and halo covering the robe; this kind is certain to be plain. When the bell emerges small, if the bud appears flat, narcissus is among them."

3. "Old color silver-red veiled by misty halo, the peak tip pale green is most praiseworthy; purple veins reaching the top, the bell like powder, it is certain to be entirely plain without error."

"When the bell emerges, if the color is like eggplant-skin purple, with plum root and green back, yellow means plain."

4. "Silver-red shell color is the most numerous; do not pass over red hemp with a glance; pick more and search more, ultimately beneficial; nine out of ten plum blossoms come from silver-red nests."

"Silver-red shell must first be pale then deep, veins reaching the top, flying tip dotted with green, small robe thick in flesh and mostly smooth; careful selection is essential."

5. "Green shell with three layers rising purple-gray, among this there must surely be seen immortal plum; small robe fleshy with a peak like snow, the bell top flat as if cut by scissors."

"If on an official green shell a layer of purple halo rises, its flower will certainly be extraordinary; vein lines avoid brightness."

6. "Deep blue hemp shell no one knows; do not say blue hemp rarely produces wonders; tip green, top red, lines reaching the top, halo sand covering the shell, extraordinary without doubt."

"Deep blue hemp shell, extremely glossy, full bud white sand, certainly not plain-extraordinary; there must be purple veins reaching the top, flying tip dotted with green; this flower is certainly extraordinary."

7. "Coarse veins and thick shell produce lotus flowers; iron bones still need unusual colors to praise; regardless of purple-red or green shell, among these extraordinary flowers are often seen."

Coarse veins and hard shell frequently produce lotus flowers; regardless of red or green, the same method of judging applies. If after a few days in the pot it can raise sand and halo, then extraordinary results can be expected. The most rare is the lotus flower's small bud, with a long, pointed, deeply overlapped tip, the phoenix eye slightly exposed, the contracting base certainly fine, the stove door broad and open; it is certain to be a flying shoulder.

30. Daughter Buds Young small leaf buds growing from the base of the pseudobulb are commonly called daughter buds. When daughter buds first emerge from the soil surface, all green-flowered types and plain-heart petal tips appear white-green; if from red-green shell or mercury red shell types, the bud tips appear slightly red; if from red shell types, they all appear red-purple. Daughter buds that break through the soil around the time of "entering the moldy season" are the strongest; those that break through during "summer dog days" are weaker; if they grow as late as mid-autumn, the daughter buds are commonly called "autumn poles," small, thin, and weak, and the leaf clusters they grow into are also short, small, and narrow.

31. Shooting Arrows After the orchid's flower stem emerges from the bud shell, it gradually grows taller; this process is commonly called shooting arrows.