KyushuCalanthe
Just call me Tom
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2008
- Messages
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Now some Japanese stuff. Japanese orchids are not the big showy flowers we've all come to love and know as "orchids". As a rule they have an understated beauty, something that grows on you the longer you work with them. Also, presentation is a key element in displaying them - a Dixie cup won't do. Here are a few representative plants from the show.
Tis the season for Dendrobium moniliforme to flower. Actually, these are greenhouse grown, so they are flowering a month or more earlier than in nature. Selected clones such as these are called Chouseiran.
What's a Japanese orchid show without at least a few Neos even if it isn't the flowering season? This 'Asahiden' caught my eye - a plant that large takes well over a decade to grow.
Another popular species to grow here is Cymbidium goeringii, called shunran in Japanese. These grow across southern Asia from China and Korea to Taiwan and much of Japan. The Chinese forms often are multifloral with lighter flowers and have a strong scent, while Japanese and Korean plants are more lightly fragrant and sport single flowers per stem. Colors range from greens, white, to true yellow, to orange and orange-red, and even wine purple. Multicolored flowers also exist.
This one has much rounder segments than most and look at that pot! Living art.
The winner of its class, this form known as 'Mebina', was a real show stopper. Such a pure orange red like that is rare and valued.
The Japanese love their terrestrials as much as the epiphytes. Here is the native Liparis makinoana, a very close relative of the North American L. lilifolia, so much so that some consider them varieties of the same species.
Finally, a very spotted leaf form of Phaius flavus. A plant with this much spotting would be expensive, at least $300, perhaps more. To the right you can see the normal form with green leaves. Variegation of any kind is highly valued in Japan.
Tis the season for Dendrobium moniliforme to flower. Actually, these are greenhouse grown, so they are flowering a month or more earlier than in nature. Selected clones such as these are called Chouseiran.
What's a Japanese orchid show without at least a few Neos even if it isn't the flowering season? This 'Asahiden' caught my eye - a plant that large takes well over a decade to grow.
Another popular species to grow here is Cymbidium goeringii, called shunran in Japanese. These grow across southern Asia from China and Korea to Taiwan and much of Japan. The Chinese forms often are multifloral with lighter flowers and have a strong scent, while Japanese and Korean plants are more lightly fragrant and sport single flowers per stem. Colors range from greens, white, to true yellow, to orange and orange-red, and even wine purple. Multicolored flowers also exist.
This one has much rounder segments than most and look at that pot! Living art.
The winner of its class, this form known as 'Mebina', was a real show stopper. Such a pure orange red like that is rare and valued.
The Japanese love their terrestrials as much as the epiphytes. Here is the native Liparis makinoana, a very close relative of the North American L. lilifolia, so much so that some consider them varieties of the same species.
Finally, a very spotted leaf form of Phaius flavus. A plant with this much spotting would be expensive, at least $300, perhaps more. To the right you can see the normal form with green leaves. Variegation of any kind is highly valued in Japan.
Hmm, you must not have any school loans. I don't think I can ever afford this one. Unless I win the lottery or join the Chinese mafia.
