Hou Cuichan Huilan Variety Introduction and Care Points
Petal type: Green-shell plum petal. History: There was formerly a Cuichan, selected during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty by a person surnamed You in Yixing, Jiangsu, and that variety has since become extinct. In the seventh year of the Xianfeng reign, Zhang Shenglin of Fuyang brought it from Shaoxing, and it was cultivated by Mr. Xu Jilou, author of "Lan Hui Tong Xin Lu". Because the flower shape resembles Cuichan, and to commemorate the old variety, it was also named Cuichan, and the orchid community thus...
Petal type: Green-shell plum petal
History: There was formerly a Cuichan, selected during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty by a person surnamed You in Yixing, Jiangsu, and that variety has since become extinct. In the seventh year of the Xianfeng reign, Zhang Shenglin of Fuyang brought it from Shaoxing, and it was cultivated by Mr. Xu Jilou, author of "Lan Hui Tong Xin Lu". Because the flower shape resembles Cuichan, and to commemorate the old variety, it was also named Cuichan, and the orchid community commonly called it Hou Cuichan to show the distinction.
Leaf habit: Similar to "Shanghai Mei"; as a fine-leaved type in the Cymbidium genus, about one chi long, arching and pendulous, glossy, with an elegant and graceful posture.
Characteristics: The three outer petals are short and round with very fine bases; the front part of the petal is shaped like a spoon with a chime-stone mouth; the petal flesh is thick; half-hard divided-tip joined-back pollinia; small ruyi tongue; shoulders level; flower color is pretty green like jade; the flower stem is slender, round, and upright. It does not flower easily and propagates slowly. It is one of the famous fine varieties of Huilan. The leaves are thick and broad, forming an arch shape.
Flower stalk: "Lan Hui Xiao Shi" says "the stem is slender," and Shen Yuanru's "Orchids" says "the flower stem is slender, round, and straight"; from the photographs, there is no doubt.
Tongue: "Lan Hui Xiao Shi" and Shen Yuanru's "Orchids" both say "small ruyi tongue," and the ancients also described Hou Cuichan's tongue as "small tongue, slightly pointed." It feels as though after blooming for a long time the tongue will still flatten out.
Pollinia: "Lan Hui Tong Xin Lu" says "half-joined pollinia"; "Lan Hui Xiao Shi" says "half-hard joined-back pollinia"; Shen Yuanru's "Orchids" says "half-hard divided-tip joined-back pollinia"; "Lan Hua Pu" says "half-hard joined-back pollinia."
Outer petals: "Lan Hui Xiao Shi" says "the three petals are short and round, with extremely thick flesh"; Shen Yuanru's "Orchids" says: "The three outer petals are short and round, with very fine bases; the front part of the petal is shaped like a spoon with a chime-stone mouth; the petal flesh is thick"; "Lan Hua Pu" says "the three petals are short and round, with thick flesh and a glutinous texture."
As for the leaves, only "Lan Hua Pu" has them, and they are not very clear, but from the records we can also find clues. "Lan Hui Tong Xin Lu" says "the leaves resemble Shanghai Mei but are more arching"; Shen Yuanru's "Orchids" says "the leaves are thick and broad, forming an arch shape."
From the habits of the orchid, Shen Yuanru's "Orchids" says "it does not flower easily and propagates slowly"; "Zhejiang Lan Hui" says "the only flaw is that it propagates slowly and does not flower easily."
