Shukou-nishiki 秋紅錦

[Hakumin]

Originally Posted by huiray

Yes, intra-breeding has certainly been recorded – much of the "new" fukiran has been due to intra-breeding between varieties of fukiran and published and sold as such with declared varietal parentage.

Actually, I'd say that around 80-90% of new pure neo varieties introduced in Japan and Korea weren't created by crossing plants to mix characteristics, but created by selfing and looking for spontaneous mutations.

The range of characteristics that reliably transmit to the offspring is fairly limited, and because they have been bred into so many new varieties already, those characteristics have ended up being considered relatively boring. While breeding new varieties like this is fairly reliable and easy to do, the spontaneous mutations is where the real interest and money is.

Originally Posted by huiray

It's a little conflicting, mentally, to compare the breeders not caring, as you say, for the lineage (with western orchids?) with what I understand is still a core principle of the Nippon Fukirankai that "registered fukiran" be "pure" in their lineage. But I suppose those hybridizers wouldn't care or want to try registering their creations on the meikan anyway. :-)

Well, in regards to registration, basically, if it's not pure neo, it doesn't matter what the parentage is, it just can't be registered.

As for the breeders, when they work with hybrids, they don't do so with the intention of ever registering them. They're meant to be fun and intriguing variations, and many of them can be extremely popular and valuable even if they can never be registered.

Originally Posted by huiray

One can hope that they be upfront about a plant they are selling as being a hybrid with "western blood", at least, even if they don't care which "western orchid" it was.

There unfortunately have been cases where certain breeders have tried to pass off yellow flowered hybrids as wild found pure neos, but the vast majority of vendors are honest, and will tell you that a plant is a hybrid if you ask.

However, in many cases, because the fact that some of these varieties are hybrid is considered basic knowledge for growers in Japan and Korea, in many cases, a vendor might not bother to mention it unless explicitly asked.

While this is a bit annoying for many new growers, especially new western growers who don't have access to the wealth of knowledge available in Japanese and Korean, it's not meant at all to be fraudulent or misleading, but is just a matter of convenience for them.