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Quote:

Originally Posted by camille1585 (Post 865004)

Neo newbie question time... What, exactly, is a Fukiran Meikan? Some sort of ranking of the plants? And what does East and West refer to?

I like the table of popular varieties at the end, it's a great reference to get the proper kanji for each variety. (And that's the only table where I actually recognize names...)

The Fukiran Meikan is a ranking chart for the varieties of Neo registered by the Nihon Fukiran Kai (Japan Fukiran Association).

First and foremost the chart includes every single variety that is registered in Japan. All of each of these varieties are widely accepted to be pure Neofinetia falcata, and beyond that, each has been chosen for its unique characteristics.

In regards to the organization and ranking, the Japanese association keeps a running ranking of each registered variety and generally assesses the popularity, rarity, value, and overall characteristics of each variety in relation to all other registered varieties, and the ranking is updated every year.

The ranking order is split into 2 sections:

Section 1, The three columns:

These are the stacks of gold and double white boxes. The varieties listed in this section are the varieties that are said to represent the Neo world. Each variety was carefully chosen to have excellent characteristics, unique characteristics in relation to each other, relative ease of growth, and widespread distribution among collectors. It is often said that these are the varieties that an experienced horticulturalist first venturing into the world of Neofinetia are recommended to start with.

Of these, Fukiden perpetually sits at the #1 position, which is why it is often referred to as the King of Fukiran.

Section 2, The rows in between the columns:

These are the rankings of all of the remaining registered varieties. These are divided into East and West, which is basically referring to the left hand column of rows vs the right hand column of rows. East and West comes into play when you begin nit-picking about the exact order of the ranking, variety by variety, but most growers don't analyze it in such detail so I'll omit the explanation of that for now.

While the Meikan isn't meant to be a price list per se, because the market value of a variety is very much tied to desirability and supply, which the Meikan explicitly does measure, the ranks do somewhat reflect the prices of the varieties as well.

The ranks are as follows from the lowest to the highest:

Zenseihin - All-Popular: This is the bottom tier in the ranking. These varieties are common and inexpensive, and the desirable characteristics tend to be more subdued or weak. Most of these varieties are also extremely prolific clumpers or seed propagable. Prices in Japan for these varieties usually range from $5 to $50 for single mature growths.
Kihin - Valuable: This is the next tier up. These varieties generally have better and stronger characteristics. Many of the classic varieties that are easy to grow are in this ranking. Prices in Japan for these are about $30 to $100 for a single mature growth.
Zensei Kihin - All Popular Valuable: With the next step up, the characteristics become more unique and desirable. Varieties in this rank and above also happen to be very difficult or impossible to propagate by seed. These usually run $80 to $500 for single mature growths.
Ki-Kihin - Rare and Valuable: In the second highest tier we see very unique varieties, many with stately growth habits along with extraordinary variegation. Some of these may have combinations of characteristics such as Striped Bean leaf varieties or Tiger variegation combined with Fukurin variegation. These varieties are also significantly rarer and often harder to multiply. Prices for these varieties are usually about $300 to $5000 for single mature growths.
Bekkaku-Ki-Kihin - Extraordinary Rare and Valuable: This is the top tier and has the most celebrated of all of the registered varieties. These varieties usually have combinations of multiple highly desirable characteristics and are very difficult to multiply resulting in the highest prices among the registered varieties, which range from about $3000 for a good quality single growth Kongoho to $30,000 for single growths of Higuma or Kotonishiki.

There is one last thing I should mention. When I mention that a variety is rare or difficult to multiply, this doesn't necessarily mean that the variety is slow growing or easily killed. It could also mean that the ideal characteristics of the variety do not show up reliably in new offshoots.

This is important because instability of variegation or other characteristics is not necessarily considered a flaw but is simply another trait in Neo varieties. In fact, some varieties such as Kinbotan, Kenkokuden and Nishidemiyako are celebrated because they easily mutate and shift in characteristics. However, this also makes it important to know about the proper characteristics of each variety before you buy, because not every specimen of a variety has all of the necessary characteristics.