Introduction to the Variety Characteristics of the Chunlan 'Dafuhe'

Dafuhe, from "Lanhua Pu": "This species is a new type of lotus-petal wonder flower discovered in Japan. In the 21st year of the Republic of China, it was purchased by Hatori of Kamakura as a broad-leaved new variety of 'Dafugui' called 'Dafumei'. It bloomed in mid-February two years later. The flower shape is a slightly elongated lotus form. Its peculiarity is that all three petals split obliquely from the middle into pointed fold-marks. Emerald green, with flat shoulders and a large flower, the flower diameter reaches about 2 cun. The interior petals also have an unusual form, especially the pure white, round, large lip petal, with the cheeks showing pale purple. The flower stalk is slender and tall, reaching 6 to 7 cun. As shown in the illustration, it has a fine bearing and good form. It is accordingly named the new species 'Dafuhe'. When it blooms in the future, it should be able to display the variety's characteristics even better." This species was already introduced back into our country in 2001-2002, with seedling prices at around 1500 yuan. In 2005, Chen Xuexiang of Yixing had a pot of "Dafuhe" exhibited at orchid shows in Changshu, Zhuji, and Linhai. This species is a lotus-form cicada-wing white-lip wonder flower, truly another treasure among the old varieties. All five petals have cicada wings, the lip is a round, large white lip, the two cheeks have purple spots, and the flower is of the strong-fragrance type. The variety characteristics of the "Dafuhe" sent to this exhibition were not fully displayed, possibly because of differences in the strength or weakness of the seedlings, and differences between natural blooming and forced blooming.