Analysis of the flowering characteristics and variety traits of the Chunlan 'Honglongzi' orchid

Chunlan 'Honglongzi' is a very old variety. Honglongzi was introduced from China to Japan in the early days, and only in recent years has it been brought back from Japan. The name Honglongzi was not chosen by us;it was chosen by the Japanese. So what kind of characteristics does this orchid have?

The leaves of Honglongzi are semi-drooping in posture, with slender and tightly gathered petioles, short leaf tips with longitudinal ridges, and relatively flat leaf surfaces,new shoots have a green base with purple-red veins.The two central leaves have deep grooves forming a “V” shape. The leaf color is dark green and lusterless, and the leaf margin serrations are coarse.

The three outer petals of Honglongzi are broad and diamond-shaped, with long pointed tips. It is a large lotus-petal type, with tightly rolled edges, level shoulders, thick petal texture, and pale yellow tips. It has horn-like protrusions, the inner side of the holding petals has a green velvet-like appearance, a large liuhai tongue, and red spots that are large but irregular. The bud sheath is red-green, with a relatively heavy green sandy cloud at the pointed tip, the lower part of the sheath close to the flesh is purple-red, the upper part is richly green, the flower stalk is pale purple, and the flower stalk rises above the leaves. The flower shape is large, classed as a large lotus-shaped narcissus-type colored flower. When the plant is small to medium-sized, the flowering traits are unstable, and it may produce small flowers, half flowers, or all ordinary flowers.