Appreciation of the Old Eight Spring Orchids
This article provides a detailed explanation of the contents related to orchidaceae, focusing on the appreciation of the Old Eight Spring Orchids. Let's delve into the information together.
This article introduces the materials related to the Old Eight Spring Orchids for orchid enthusiasts, with the spring orchid varieties in Jiangsu and Zhejiang being divided into five categories since the Qing Dynasty: plum petal, lotus petal, narcissus petal, plain heart, and strange variety (including butterfly petal). In the early Republic of China, the "Old Eight Spring Orchids" were selected: Song Mei, Ji Yuan, Long Zi, Wan Zi, Wang Zi, Xiao Da Mei, He Shen Mei, Gui Yuan Mei (the first four are known as the "Four Kings of Spring Orchids" in the Japanese orchid circles). Now, let's appreciate each one:
Appreciation of the Old Eight Spring Orchids 1 [Song Mei]
Selected by Song Jinxuan from Shaoxing, Zhejiang during the Qianlong era (1736-1795), it was named Song Jinxuan Mei due to its standard plum petal appearance, and is abbreviated as Song Mei.
The new bud is light purple, the leaves are 20-30cm long and about 1cm wide, the leaf texture is thick, the leaf color is bright green with a luster, the old leaves are arching, the plant form has graceful curves. The flower stem is thin and long, 12-15cm tall, the bract is light purple with a pink base, the top of the flower stem turns green, the outer three petals are round and tight, the base of the petals is thin. The main petal is in a cover shape, polite, and the two lateral sepals are in a straight shoulder shape. The petals are silkworm-like, protecting the fragrant pistil. The lip is short and round, typical of Liu Hai tongue, with one or two small red dots on the tongue surface, and can also bloom without red dots as "white tongue Song Mei". Song Mei has a noble taste without being arrogant and has a high germination rate. The flower form also has magical transformations: robust leaves often bloom typical plum petals; strong plants can bloom double flowers (with a water lily petal shape). Song Mei is the most human-spirited "personality flower" and has been loved for two hundred years, even the Japanese orchid circles respect it as the first among the "Four Kings of Spring Orchids".
Appreciation of the Old Eight Spring Orchids 2 [Ji Yuan]
Discovered by a traveling monk at the end of the Daoguang era (1850) and obtained by Zhang Shenglin from Yuyao, Zhejiang in the second year of Xianfeng (1852), the name "Ji Yuan" comes from the rounded surface where the base of the outer three petals converge, also known as "Shi Yuan" or "Old Shi Yuan".
The new bud is purple-green, the leaf shape is similar to Song Mei, 25-30cm long, the tip is slightly blunt, the leaf color is dark green, the new leaves are glossy, the old leaves are oblique, and there are usually 1-2 narrow leaves in the middle, the leaf texture is thick and glutinous. The flower stem is about 15cm long, the bract has purple-red veins. The blooming period is a few days later than Song Mei. The outer three petals are round and tight, with thin bases and straight shoulders. The flower color is light green, the petal flesh is thick, the flower appearance is dignified and beautiful, the flower shape is plum, sometimes blooming as water lily petals, often steady with changes. Even the flower stem has red and green stalks. The flower shape is very similar to Song Mei. It's not difficult to distinguish by three points: 1. The top section of the flower stem remains purple-red, unlike Song Mei which turns green; 2. The outer three petals are slightly longer than Song Mei and converge into a rounded shape at the base; 3. The lip is a small Liu Hai tongue,明显 smaller than Song Mei's lip. Ji Yuan grows vigorously, propagates quickly, has a healthy flower form, and is a treasure widely circulated among the "Four Kings of Spring Orchids".
Appreciation of the Old Eight Spring Orchids 3 [Long Zi]
Discovered in the Qianyan Long Mai of Gaomiao Mountain in Yuyao, Zhejiang during the Jiaqing era (1796-1820), it was named "Long Zi" because of its large flower shape, the champion of荷花-type narcissus, also known as "Yao Yi Se".
The new bud is green with purple, the leaves are 30-40cm long and 1-1.2cm wide, the base of the old leaves has a petiole about 10cm long, the middle part is wide, the leaf tip is slightly pointed, and the leaf posture is semi-hanging. The flower stem is thin and erect, 15-20cm tall, the bract is rose red. The outer three petals are wide, the flower diameter is up to 7cm, tight, with the roots released, the two lateral sepals are in a straight shoulder shape, the petals are soft Guanyin-like, with five petals separated. The lip is a large铺 tongue, with two long and one short inverted T-shaped red dots on the tongue surface. It looks like a lucky star shining, the flower color is fresh and green, the flower quality is dignified and rich, together with Song Mei, it is known as the "double walls of national orchids", and is the largest and most beautiful among the "Four Kings of Spring Orchids".
Appreciation of the Old Eight Spring Orchids 4 [Wan Zi]
Cultivated for the first time in the Wanzheng Garden in Hangzhou, Zhejiang during the Tongzhi era (1862-1874), hence named "Wan Zi"; it was also discovered near the Yu Lake in Jiaxing, Zhejiang, and is also known as "Yu Lake First Mei".
The new bud is light green with a hint of purple, the leaves are 25-28cm long, the middle part of the leaf is wide, the leaf color is dark green, the new leaves are glossy, the leaf texture is thick, the leaf veins are deep, the leaf posture is oblique, sometimes semi-hanging, with graceful curves. The flower stem is round and erect, 16cm tall, the bract is light purple with a transparent feeling, the outer three petals are short and round, the two lateral sepals are flat, the petals are thick and glossy, and the flower appearance is dignified and elegant, with a small Ru Yi tongue, winning the praise of the Japanese orchid circles and listed as one of the "Four Kings of Spring Orchids". In the Jiangsu and Zhejiang orchid circles, some people once passed off Rui Mei as Wan Zi, and now the differences between the two are identified:
1. Rui Mei's flower stem is shorter than Wan Zi, about 10CM, and Wan Zi's top section turns green, while Rui Mei's top section is redder.
2. Rui Mei's flower shape is smaller than Wan Zi, at most 4cm, while Wan Zi can reach 5cm.
3. Wan Zi's inner petals are soft silkworm-like, round and smooth, with a slight red dot at the front of the petals, while Rui Mei is half-hard silkworm-like without a red dot, these two have obvious differences.
4. Wan Zi's lip is a small Ru Yi tongue, often not hanging down, while Rui Mei's lip is larger, with Liu Hai tongue, and can stretch out.
Appreciation of the Old Eight Spring Orchids 5 [Wang Zi]
Selected by Wang Keming from Fenghua, Zhejiang during the Kangxi era (1662-1722), named "Wang Zi" after the breeder's surname. Its breeding history ranks first among the Old Eight Spring Orchids.
The new bud is purple, the leaves are 25-35cm long and 0.9cm wide. The leaf color is dark green, lacking luster. The leaf surface has a deep "V" groove, the leaf tip is sharp, and the leaf posture is upright. The flower stem is thin and long, 15-20cm tall, the flower pedicle is light purple. The outer three petals have long feet and round heads, tight, with the main petal slightly forward, not arrogant or humble, the two lateral sepals are in a straight shoulder shape, the petals are hooded, white, short and soft, protecting the fragrant pistil. The lip is round, with light red dots on the tongue surface, the flower color is green, the flower quality is dignified, full of vitality, and the flowers are durable and easy to bloom.
Appreciation of the Old Eight Spring Orchids 6 [Xiao Da Mei]
Selected in Suzhou, Jiangsu during the Daoguang era (1821-1850). It is said that the brothers Da Hu and Xiao Hu fought over this flower and ended up in the county magistrate's office, hence the name "Xiao Da Mei".
The new bud is purple-green, the leaves are 20-28cm long and only 0.7cm wide. The leaf color is bright green, the new leaves are glossy, and the old leaves are sickle-shaped. The flower stem is thin and erect, about 12cm tall, the five bracts are purple-red with seven veins reaching the top (a sign of good flowers). The outer three petals are round, the petal flesh is thick, tight, and glutinous. The main petal is in a "sun-shading" shape, the length-to-width ratio of the two lateral sepals is 1.88:1, the shoulders are slightly flat, the petals are half-hard silkworm-like with "white heads" at the tip, the lip is round, with light red spots on the tongue surface, and is considered a top-grade spring orchid with plum petals.
Appreciation of the Old Eight Spring Orchids 7 [He Shen Mei]
Produced in the Yunque Mountain of Yuyao, Zhejiang at the beginning of the Republic of China, also known as "Yunge Mei".
The new bud is light purple-red, the leaves are about 0.8cm wide and 20-30cm long. The leaf color is dark green, the leaf posture is oblique. The flower stem is thin and erect, about 12cm tall, the bract is rose red, the flower stem is light purple, the top section turns green, the outer three petals have short feet and round heads, tight, with thin bases. The main petal is beautiful in posture, in a "sun-shading" shape, the two lateral sepals are flat and extended, looking energetic, sometimes in a "flying shoulder" shape. The inner petals are thick,观音兜-like, with red stripes radiating from the inside. The lip is round and correct, with Liu Huo tongue, stretching out, and slightly curled when fully bloomed. In recent years, this flower has become more expensive than the "Queen of Spring Orchids" due to its popularity in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang orchid markets.
Appreciation of the Old Eight Spring Orchids 8 [Gui Yuan Mei]
Selected by Zhu Xiangbao from Shaoxing, Zhejiang at the beginning of the Republic of China, also known as "Sai Jin Xuan", meaning it can compete with Song Mei.
The new bud is purple-green, the leaves are 25-30cm long and 0.9cm wide, the leaf color is dark green, the new leaves are glossy, the leaf texture is thick, the leaf posture is semi-hanging, and the plant form is graceful. The flower stem is thin and long, the same height as the leaf frame, with five silver-red bracts, a transparent feeling, the flower pedicle is green with red veins. The outer three petals are short and round, the color is net green, the edges are flat, and the two lateral sepals are flat. Sometimes blooming with a divided head and back half-hard观音兜-like petals; the lip is a small Liu Hai tongue, with a few bright red dots on the tongue surface. Because the petals are tightly wrapped by the bracts and the outer three petals have hook-like tips, it is necessary to gently apply a prying operation to make the flower appear correct. After the flowers, it should be placed in a sunny place, otherwise it is difficult to bloom.
The above sharing of the appreciation of the Old Eight Spring Orchids provides small experiences of green plants and flowers, hoping to bring you help in life!