Characteristics and Appreciation Points of Cymbidium kanran Petal-shaped Flowers

This piece came to mind suddenly while reading Jinyu Xiangyu Xuyu, so I jotted it down casually. Building a cart behind closed doors, a narrow view - there are certainly many inadequacies, and I respectfully invite everyone to critique.
      
    Cymbidium kanranpetal shapeflowerappreciation that completely applies traditional petal-shape theory, or breaks away from traditional petal-shape theory to strike out on a new path, is neither realistic nor possible.Cymbidium kanranpetal shapeflowerclassification and definition can only be achieved on the basis of absorbing the essence of traditional petal-shape theory, combined withCymbidium kanranthe characteristics of the petal-shaped flower's own variation.
    
    Jinyu Xiangyu Xuyu proposed a new method of petal-shape classification, raising the concept and meaning of narcissus (shuixian) to a level that encompasses plum (mei) and lotus (he), so that all fine flowers in the world today can be included in the register. Cymbidium kanran petal-shaped flowers can be classified according to the petal-shape classification method proposed in Jinyu Xiangyu Xuyu. Cymbidium kanran petal-shaped flowers are all discussed under the narcissus category, divided into three types: super-petal narcissus, official-type narcissus, and clever-type narcissus.
  
     I. Super-petal narcissus
    Cymbidium kanran super-petal narcissus is defined on the basis of the form of the entire flower after variation. Those meeting the following requirements may be so called.
    1. Outer petals become shorter and wider.
    2. The two petals (shuang peng) have no pouch (dou), the tips are slightly rounded, becoming shorter and wider, and do not separate after prolonged blooming.
    3. The lip (she) is round and large; there are two kinds - the fringe lip (liuhai she) and the round lip (yuan she) - and they do not curl back after prolonged blooming.
    
    II. Official-type narcissus
    Cymbidium kanran official-type narcissus is defined on the basis of the form of the central column (zhonggong) after variation. Those meeting the following requirements may be so called.
    1. The two petals (shuang peng) have a shallow pouch, with a slight white tip, and do not separate after prolonged blooming.
    2. The lip (she) is short, round, and small; it must be a small fringe lip, small ruyi lip, small round lip, or small dragon-swallowing lip, and does not curl back after prolonged blooming.
    
    III. Clever-type narcissus
    Cymbidium kanran clever-type narcissus is defined on the basis of the form of the petals (peng) after variation. As long as the two petals have a pouch and show masculinization, it may be so called.
    
    Such classification and definition absorbs the essence of traditional petal-shape theory and combines the characteristics of the petal-shaped flower's own variation in Cymbidium kanran. It has both qualitative and quantitative aspects, enabling Cymbidium kanran petal-shaped flowers to be selected out from ordinary Cymbidium kanran flowers, so that the selected Cymbidium kanran petal-shaped flowers are superb in both spirit and form and can be included in the register and handed down through generations.
    
  Such classification and definition merely sets out the minimum requirements for classification and definition. The grade of the three types of narcissus flowers should be refined and perfected based on flower form, the characteristics of the petal-shaped flower's own variation in Cymbidium kanran, and other appreciation standards of traditional petal-shape theory.
    
    Such classification is broad-brush and still awaits refinement. For example, by leaf shape one could divide them into narrow-leaf and broad-leaf narcissus; by flower color one could divide them into green-flower, red-flower, purple-flower narcissus, and so on; and clever-type narcissus could be further divided by outer petal form.
    
    Such classification lacks the lotus petal (he ban) of traditional petal shapes. Once Cymbidium kanran lotus petals have been bred, a category can be added.
    
    Such definition is broad-brush. It only lists, according to the degree and difficulty of variation in Cymbidium kanran, key points such as petals becoming shorter and rounder, petals not separating, lip not curling back, and lip being short, round, and small. It is more qualitative than quantitative and also needs refinement. For example, petals becoming shorter and rounder should, likeCymbidium goeringiilotus petals, have a basic length-to-width ratio prescribed; petals not separating after prolonged blooming and the lip not curling back after prolonged blooming can be quantified in terms of time.
A few pictures downloaded from the internet are posted above; pictures are more vivid and intuitive than words, and more persuasive.