I already posted a shot of this plant on the orchid forum, but here it is again in case you missed it. This plant was at a nursery I visited last week on the island of Shikoku. This plant is a rarity, and its value is higher than most folks would be willing to pay: at least $1000 (this one isn't for sale). Here are a couple shots of it:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/CypJaponicumAlba2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/tvelardi/CypJaponicumAlba1.jpg

Due to the fact that propagating these from seed is very difficult, it is likely they will not be commonly available anytime too soon. The truth is that Cypripedium japonicum in general will probably remain uncommon in cultivation since virtually all current stocks of these are from the wild. In time wild collected material will become more and more scarce as wild plants become less frequent. The upshot is that if you want some of these, better to buy now than later.

The alba form is so rare that I hope I get to see one again sometime in my life time! The owner of the nursery I visited plans to propagate this plant, but I would imagine none will ever make it outside Japan, at least from his nursery.

hello Tom,

THATS IT!! :woohoo:

I have already seen another pic before,
but this plant is "incredible"

give me the address,
I will immediately book a flight to see it :Party:

best
dieter

hello Tom,

give me the address,
I will immediately book a flight to see it :Party:

best
dieter

I'll go with you!

Ron

Wow, rare indeed! It's a beauty for sure. Lovely picture.

In time wild collected material will become more and more scarce as wild plants become less frequent. The upshot is that if you want some of these, better to buy now than later.


Am I misunderstanding what you're saying?

"Get your snow leopards now before there aren't any left"

Thanks Tom!!! You always post such treats for us...I get so excited when I see you have posted something! :thumbsup:

Wow !! that's something for a flower !!

I'm coming with both of you! If we can't get plane tickets, then we should rent a roawboat. We should get there before next year's blooming!

Am I misunderstanding what you're saying?

"Get your snow leopards now before there aren't any left"

Hey Mark,

No, you aren't misunderstanding me. The story with C. japonicum in "the wild" of Japan has been repeated over and over again with many other species: their habitats have changed and will continue to do so over the coming years. I asked the nursery owner, Takuya Izumi, about the situation on Shikoku. He told me that there are wild populations of C. japonicum left on the island, but these are in immediate danger of being destroyed. The main culprit is not collecting per se, but rather changes in forest management. Simply put, natural forest is giving way to plantation forest and many plants are in decline because of this. Since these populations exist on private land collecting them is not illegal, and in Takuya's opinion they will not exist in the near future anyway. This isn't just some cynical view, it comes from observing plants in the wild for the last 25 years. Here on Kyushu, as far as I have been able to determine, the species is all but lost. Nobody seems to know of any plants.

Populations do exist on Honshu and Hokkaido, but to what extent these are truly wild, I'm not sure. I do know that some areas have been protected with large stands of them, but are these really "wild" populations? A similar situation exists with C. macranthos and C. yatabeanum on Honshu. Hokkaido remains more wild, but that too is changing. On Rebun Island off the coast of Hokkaido C. macranthos v. rebunense, C. calceolus, and C. x ventricosum still exist is fairly large numbers. Plants have been collected there for many years, but this has mostly stopped since the remaining populations are now heavily protected. The remaining Japanese species, C. debile appears to be locally abundant in parts of Honshu.

C. japonicum also exists in China where it is widespread in the warmer temperate areas. These places are all under the gun of raging economic growth and the resulting loss of habitat. It is interesting to note that many of the C. japonicum sold in Japan each year are in fact Chinese. What is the future of these populations in the coming years? Very unstable to say the least. The Chinese economy will go into a bust at some point and they will have to review their policies toward the land, and then perhaps whatever remains will have a chance to recover.

I know that doesn't answer your question really. Any ethical dilemma really has no easy answer. As for the albino forms of C. japonicum, they are like fairy dust: very alluring, but always just out of reach.

Tom

Yes, it is an ethical dilemma and kind of sad. In reality the pragmatist in me agrees with what Michael Pollan writes in "Second Nature." He says that essentially so much of the world has come under human influence that to consider it all "natural" and take an entirely hands-off approach to managing it isn't always practical. Pristine areas need to be protected when they can, but the disturbed/influenced areas need to be treated more like gardens. Keep them as well as we can, but don't fool ourselves that they're natural. Conserving plants ex situ is one facet of it and certainly not the ideal way. It's understandably a hard sell to serious nature lovers.

Great photos!:cool:

Tom,
This looks like a vintage antique, very expensive!!:cool:

John

a flower with the WOW factor...sad to hear that they are disappearing from the wild

hi,

as I already experienced, the successfull cultivation of C. japonicum is not so easy and "a real challenge".

But not only japanese people know the "tric".

look at this pic, which a dear fellow cypripedium grower
send me from his garden "somewhere" in MA, USA.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/207/1cypjapzi6.jpg

:good:

he told me, that there is no "tric", they only need the "right conditions"

THATS IT :woohoo:

therefor: lets try harder!!

best
Dieter

Gorgous cyp there!
I love those leaves of this species too, but I need tons of practice before getting one

Gorgous cyp there!
I love those leaves of this species too, but I need tons of practice before getting one

Try a formosanum for now, Fren, the leaves and the flowers look similar yet it is much easier (or so I heard).. :heart:

Would be great to have a SOF tour across japan just to see all the cyps in the wild! (and also all the gorgeous japanese orchids like neofinetia, sedirea, ebine in wild and cultivation):heart: :heart:

Wow, they are truly amazing!

Hi Tom,
Fantastic Plant and great photos. They seem to be the best ever this year!

Perhaps the nursery owner will consider tissue culture for his seedlings in the future once it becomes a more routine proceedure. Your alba japonicum is certainly the first instance I've ever heard of this variety! and it is very much worth its rarity.

Would be great to have a SOF tour across japan just to see all the cyps in the wild!

You don't have to go quite that far to see some Cyps... In BC, WA & OR there are Cyp pubescens, montanum, passerinum, fasciculatum and californicum. If you're willing to go north to AK, you can add Cyp yatabeanum and guttatum as well. Cyps from AK to CA: quite a scenic tour.

Best,
Ross

hi,

as I already experienced, the successfull cultivation of C. japonicum is not so easy and "a real challenge".

But not only japanese people know the "tric".

look at this pic, which a dear fellow cypripedium grower
send me from his garden "somewhere" in MA, USA.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/207/1cypjapzi6.jpg

:good:

he told me, that there is no "tric", they only need the "right conditions"

THATS IT :woohoo:

therefor: lets try harder!!

best
Dieter

Gees Wiz that awesome!!!!

Ramon:D

Perhaps the nursery owner will consider tissue culture for his seedlings in the future once it becomes a more routine proceedure. Your alba japonicum is certainly the first instance I've ever heard of this variety! and it is very much worth its rarity.

Hey Ross, he is considering trying to micropropagate it, but it is a bit of a dilemma since if he produces many then the price will of course go down considerably. The other issue is that C. japonicum is a tricky plant to grow, even in Japan. It seems to require a long growing season to really do well, from mid April to mid November. As you know, this species is also difficult to grow from seed. Lots of barriers to go over there...profit is the main motivator in any business, SO I would guess that this beauty will remain rare for a long time. Now, if it were my plant, I'd be finding anyway possible to propagate it!