Lianban Orchid Taibai Su originates from Weixi, Yunnan
Taibai Su is a variety of Lianban Orchid (Cymbidium tortisepalum var. lianpan), named for its discovery in the valley of Taizi Snow Mountain and its pure white flowers without any speckles. It was originally called Lianban Su. Weixi is located on the borderland of Yunnan and Tibet, in the Three Parallel Rivers region of the Jinsha River, Lancang River and Nujiang River, where mountains are high and valleys are deep and unfathomable, with snow peaks reaching nearly 5000m and river valleys less than 1000m deep, an elevation difference of 4000 meters. High mountains bring much mist and cloud, deep valleys bring many streams, and the clear cold brings many orchids. In 1989, Chen Zhongqin, owner of the Snow Mountain Botanical Garden, found Taibai Su. The following spring, when Taibai Su bloomed, he wore Tibetan clothing and delivered it to the Second China Orchid Expo in Xiamen for exhibition, causing a sensation in the orchid world, and it was bought away by a foreign orchid merchant at a high price. Because of the discovery of Taibai Su, Weixi was listed as a famous orchid-producing area.
Taibai Su is a variety of Lianban Orchid (Cymbidium tortisepalum var. lianpan), named for its discovery in the valley of Taizi Snow Mountain and its pure white flowers without any speckles. It was originally called Lianban Su. Weixi is located on the borderland of Yunnan and Tibet, in the Three Parallel Rivers region of the Jinsha River, Lancang River and Nujiang River, where mountains are high and valleys are deep and unfathomable, with snow peaks reaching nearly 5000m and river valleys less than 1000m deep, an elevation difference of 4000 meters. High mountains bring much mist and cloud, deep valleys bring many streams, and the clear cold brings many orchids. In 1989, Chen Zhongqin, owner of the Snow Mountain Botanical Garden, found Taibai Su. The following spring, when Taibai Su bloomed, he wore Tibetan clothing and delivered it to the Second China Orchid Expo in Xiamen for exhibition, causing a sensation in the orchid world, and it was bought away by a foreign orchid merchant at a high price. Because of the discovery of Taibai Su, Weixi was listed as a famous orchid-producing area.
The leaves are fine and hard, with V-shaped leaf grooves, sharp serrations along the leaf edges, and a midrib that is translucent like silk. New shoots emerge glutinous white. The leaf sheaths are emerald green without any speckles. One scape bears 2 to 3 flowers, all pure white, with white flower stalks. The flower veins leave no trace and are the same white as the petals. The petal shape is that of willow leaves, like the shape of eagle wings. When in full bloom, the spreading petals are like snow eagles soaring in the firmament, like white spirits, full of boundless vitality. The variety is rare, something to be encountered but not sought, and its lovely presence is hard to find in the market records.