About Saikaku
 

http://scidmore.com/images/Saikaku.png


Saikaku may be my favorite neo, so I felt inspired to share. I don't read Kanji, so corrections and additions are welcome.

The following is from the records I keep on all my neos.

Saikaku(西鶴) is a unique stable high-end medium-size variety with a very thick stem and dynamic, strong, very wide, ridged wankyokuba, serpentine leaves. The wavy curves of the leaves often give the appearance that the orchid’s motion was captured in a freeze-frame photograph. The stable white fukurin variegation includes Kirikomi jima cutting in stripes. Like its progenitor, Nishidemiayako, the flowers are large for the size of the plant.

Saikaku is a sport mutation of the well know, mutation-prone, and widely collected sterile clone, Nishidemiyako. The only significant traits it shares with its progenitor are large flower size and Kirikomi fukurin stripes.

According to one source, there may be two Saikaku types, large and small, but it may also be that this difference depends on the growing conditions.

Saikaku was originally named Gyokuryū, which means “ball dragon” (whatever that is).

There are two variants in my collection:
Saikaku 西鶴 - Standard type, described above.

Saikaku-Manazuru 西鶴 - 真鶴 - (photo attached) This variant has the Nakasuke Konpuku inverted fukurin pattern with green margins and white center. The Japanese word tsuru (鶴) means "crane" and is often used to name of nakasuke konpuku varieties, especially those mutated from the Nishidemiyako group. The direct translation of manazuru is "white-napped crane", referring to the inverted.

The inverted presentation on the individual I own may or may not be stable, though the seller stated that the new green fans would get better variegation with maturity Nishidemiyako often put out Manazuru growths, but many Manazuru growths will turn to yūrei as they mature. The green fans on this plant may very well develop as Saikaku or Nishidemiyako sports. The Kanji character "鶴" in 'Saikaku (西鶴)' does not indicate the nakasuke konpuku trait.


-Keith

Just a few things:

Firstly, you forgot one of the most important characteristics of Saikaku! ;) Saikaku has wave-form tsuke, and that is one of the defining characteristics of the variety.


Nishidemiyako isn't sterile, it just won't breed true even when selfed (i.e. none of the seedlings will have correct variegation).

Gyoku 玉 in Gyokuryu 玉龍, can mean "ball" in other contexts, but in this case would mean "jade." So the name means something more like "Jade Dragon"

Saikaku is not known to revert back to Nishidemiyako or produce nishidemiyako sports. Saikaku was originally a one time mutation, and it seems that Saikaku, unlike most of the Nishidemiyako mutations, was a permanent one.


Lastly, what you pointed out in the photos isn't the kirikomi characteristic. The Kirikomi characteristic that Nishidemiyako is known for is the addition of extra green stripes along the margins. It looks like these stripes.

Thanks for the additions, corrections. Your corrections point out the problem with doing neofinetia research on the internet. I was hoping you'd show up to help. :)
Thank you!!!

-Keith