Neofinetia 'Wonhyo'

[Hakumin]

Originally Posted by Orchidtinkerer

Something wasn't right. I researched the plant and was a bit amused to find out a Korean breeder had fooled the Japanese to think this was a pure neofinetia and sold it to them as such. Only once it was registered as a new Neofinetia variety was it discovered that it doesn't bloom at the right time and numerous other discrepancies that made them realize it is actually an Ascocentrum crossed with a falcata and most likely backcrossed to a falcata again to make it seem predominantly falcata.

Kouhou was never registered in Japan, and there is no record of it in the past meikans. I have heard this and similar stories a few times before about kouhou as well as other yellow flower varieties, but they have always been anecdotal and there is no actual evidence that it had ever happened. A couple of the people that I have encountered who reiterate that story also have a clear anti-Korean bias and tell that story as a way to try and discredit Korean breeders.

The first hybrid yellow flower neo with a name is recorded to have been Ogonden, and it has pretty much always been known that saturated yellow flower neos are hybrids.

Edit: I have confirmed with Ikuo Nishiguchi, one of the foremost authorities of Neos in Japan that there was never a case where Kouhou nor any other yellow flowered hybrid was registered in Japan. He says that yes, Kouhou is known to have originally been bred in Korea, but that anything with darker yellow flowers than Oyashima or Zuiun have always been considered impossible to be pure.


---------- Post added at 10:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:00 PM ----------

Originally Posted by K-Sci

What do the breeders do with the inferior breeding product?

Most breeders just discard them. Some sell them off to the general houseplant market without names.

---------- Post added at 10:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:04 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Orchidtinkerer

As to the question of what happens to the millions of weak seedlings that are not part of the 10% that stand out above the rest - I have wondered myself and have no idea but would like to think that they will become just as strong - just one year later, straggling but catching up eventually. Considering most of my collection will most likely not be from the "best seedlings" in a batch, hopefully all it will mean is a longer wait.

Inferior breeding product has little to do with whether they are strong or weak. When it comes to neo breeding, inferior seedlings are the individuals that do not show the desired characteristics intended by the breeder/propagator.

[K-Sci]

I found some pictures of Neofinetia falcata 'Kouhou' 黄鳳 and its flowers visa search. It has a very nice yellow color, even after color correcting the photos using a white object in the photo as a reference. on the ones I found is quite pretty. One of the things I like about Orchids Limited is that they are very honest about describing the plants. Here's a link. You are right about the rambling roots. I suspect that they are too inflexible to train without breaking.

Your Kouhou sounds like a great plant.

I believe most experienced Neofinetia collectors know that all but the lightest colored Neofinetia flowers come from hybrids. There are true yellow Neos, but the ones I know of bloom white then yellow slightly over a few days. I don't think it is in any way dishonest. It is common for the Japanese to described Neofinetia leaves as blue.