The Poetry of Dendrobium moniliforme (Choseiran)

Dendrobium moniliforme, called Sekkoku or Choseiran in Japan, is a small caning Dendrobium that has been cultivated for centuries in Japan. Though less well known in the west than its botanical second cousin Vanda (Neofinetia) falcata (Furan or Fuukiran), Dendrobium moniliforme also has an extensive history in Japan of appreciation and selection of botanical varieties. There are various cane heights, cane colors, leaf shapes, leaf colors and variegations, and flower colors. As with Vanda falcata, a few of them are just plain weird, but most of the varieties are lovely little plants.

I have quite a few Vanda falcata but I resisted purchasing Dendrobium moniliforme because they looked kind of ragged and leggy, as caning Dendrobiums are wont to be. A short while ago I purchased a D. moniliforme 'Kosetsu' plant, a fairly typical white flowered variety with plain green leaves and canes, probably not much different from the common wild form other than being on the small side. It was love at first sight. A simple description of my plant or even the photo below fails to convey what enchanted me, but I will try to give you a sense with a prose poetic description (please forgive my amateur attempt).

A stand of ancient trunks densely clustered on a hill, clothed in papery wrapping, shredded and worn, revealing smooth maroon skin. Most are proudly erect, but one kinks a bit as if staggering under the weight of age. In the midst of the ancient ones, two vibrant green youths stand tall, shouting with exuberance, their skin green and tight on their canes and their leaves tender and graceful, unaware that they will soon shed their leaves and join the ranks of the ancient ones. In time, the ancient ones will bear pristine white scented flowers for a few weeks, and then will return to their mute and papered form, each year becoming more shriveled and shredded until they can bear flowers no more. In a month or a year, new youthful canes will push up and exclaim in green that life endures, life persists, life prevails.

That is what my plant says to me. Though I can find very little English literature on the plant, it seems likely to me that similar sentiments are found in Japanese. This is the bonsai of orchids.