Unique and Colorful: A Brief Discussion of Butterfly-Type Floral Art in Chinese Cymbidiums

The "butterflies" among Chinese orchids, in all their myriad forms, have formed one of the most captivating groups in Chinese cymbidiums, collectively known as "Chinese Cymbidium Butterfly-Type Floral Art."

Concept: In the flowers of Chinese cymbidiums, if 2 sepals (lateral sepals) or 2 petals (petals) undergo partial or complete mutation into a lip, then the flower colors of this type of orchid become richer and more varied. Usually the lip-transformed perianth segments bear colors such as green, white, red, and pale yellow. These mutated perianth segments curl backward or outward at the tip just like a lip (labellum), and their shape and color resemble butterfly wings; the unfurled blooms look strikingly like colorful butterflies dancing in the wind. This phenomenon is called "butterfly transformation." Orchids of this type we call "butterfly-type floral art."

Classification: Butterfly-type floral art can be divided into two major categories: one is when the sepals (lateral sepals) of the orchid show lip-like mutation, called "outer butterfly." The other is when the petals (petals) show lip mutation, called "inner butterfly," also known as "inner butterfly" or "stamen butterfly." These are further divided into halo butterfly and plain butterfly: halo butterfly means the butterfly-transformed area has colored markings; plain butterfly means the butterfly-transformed area is clean and elegantly plain, with no miscellaneous markings. According to the extent of the butterfly-transformed area, they can also be divided into full butterfly, half butterfly, and grass butterfly, also known as full butterfly, half butterfly, and grass butterfly. Full butterfly means the butterfly-transformed area exceeds 1/2 or more; half butterfly means the butterfly transformation reaches 1/3; grass butterfly means the butterfly transformation is not extensive, that is, one side has butterfly transformation while the other side does not.

Flower type: In the great family of Chinese cymbidiums, each flower type has its own merits. Among all the flower types, butterfly-type floral art stands in a class of its own. For example, the green petals of an inner butterfly turn white and are adorned with brilliant red blotches; some have two cat-ear petals edged in silver, with the inner petal mutation appearing purplish-black; some have inner petal mutations that become patterns resembling those of tigers or leopards. In outer butterflies, the lower half of the lateral sepals undergoes butterfly transformation, that is, changing from the original green to white and adorned with vivid red blotches; some have a red line down the middle, forming a lateral sepal with clearly contrasting three colors (green, white, red). The flower types of Chinese cymbidium butterfly-type floral art are not as sedate as plum-petal or narcissus-petal types; they are light and fluttering, versatile and colorful, giving the flowers a greater sense of three-dimensionality and movement, making one marvel at the wonders of nature.

Leaf shape and flower buds: In Chinese cymbidiums, the leaf-shape characteristics of butterfly-type floral art are obvious. Generally speaking, in any plant that produces butterfly-type floral art, the two halves of the leaf blade are unequal, that is, the main vein of the leaf is not centered, the leaf-margin serrations are at the leaf tip and resemble sandpaper, the leaf sheath is firm and upright, and the bud sheath from outside to inside is brightly colored with a heavy sand-like texture; the bracts have rich, vivid colors. In the Cymbidium goeringii type, before the flower bud opens, a "white belly" can be faintly seen outside the sheath.

The rise of butterfly-type floral art: Before the founding of New China, there were roughly more than ten kinds of Cymbidium goeringii and Cymbidium faberi butterfly-type floral art circulating in orchid circles, such as the well-known Zhen Die, Wu Die, Yang's Plain Butterfly, and Stamen Butterfly. Since the reform and opening up in the 1980s, with the nation prospering and orchid culture flourishing, the number of butterfly-type orchids has grown ever greater, and their grade and value have risen accordingly, forming a unique and colorful branch of the orchid family. For example, among Cymbidium goeringii there are Butterfly Dragon, Tianhe Butterfly, Tianmu Lotus Butterfly, Longfu Butterfly, Swift, Five-Color Butterfly, Xinguang Butterfly, Tiger Stamen Butterfly, Black Cat Stamen Butterfly, Leopard Butterfly, Millennium Stamen Butterfly, Wengzhou Stamen Butterfly (Heavenly Maiden Dance), Biyao, Giant Panda, and so on; among Cymbidium faberi there are Da Die Cai, Fuhe Butterfly, Five Tiger Butterfly, New Three-Star Butterfly, and so on; among Cymbidium ensifolium there is Holy Fire; among Cymbidium kanran there is Cold Three Friends; among Cymbidium sinense there is Jinfu Cui; among Cymbidium tortisepalum there is Peach Garden Three Sworn Brothers, and so on.

Grade quality: A high-grade outer butterfly should have the following characteristics: the main sepal, that is, the main petal, must clasp and cover the petals, commonly called "capping"; the lip transformation on the 2 lateral sepals reaches 1/2 of the sepal width, there is a ridge in the lip-transformed area and lateral lobes at the base of the sepal, and both lateral sepals have these characteristics in a symmetrical arrangement; the rear part of the lateral lobes presents a skirt-like edge, and the ridge band forms a boundary in the middle of the sepal, making the lip transformation even more obvious; the lip-transformed areas of the 2 lateral sepals are bright white and vivid red, with strong color contrast and a clear, lovely flower color; butterflies appearing among plum-petal, narcissus-petal, lotus-petal, and plain-heart types; and the butterfly-transformation trait is stable.

Characteristics of low-grade outer butterflies: the main petal is upright and recurved; the lip-transformed area is small or does not reach the sepal tip; one side has butterfly transformation while the other does not; the color is dull; the butterfly-transformed part is asymmetrical; and the butterfly-transformation trait is unstable.

A high-grade inner butterfly should have the following characteristics: both petals (petals) are entirely lip-transformed. So-called complete lip transformation means the petals have a mid-lobe, lateral lobes, and a ridge; the degree of lip transformation of the 2 petals is consistent. If it is a colored-heart variety, then the red dots on the 2 lip-transformed petals, and the form and color of the recurved 2 petals, must all be completely consistent and symmetrical; the outer three sepals are short, round, and broad; the color is bright; and the trait is stable.

Characteristics of low-grade inner butterflies: on the 2 petals only the petal tips are lip-transformed, with no lateral lobes at the petal base; the two sides of the petals are asymmetrical; the color is dull; and the trait is unstable.