INTRODUCTIONS ● NEOFINETIA FALCATA 'KUTSUWAMUSHI' 轡虫

CHARACTERISTICS: leaf span - 5 in (13 cm); jiku - brown; tsuke - crescent moon; ne - green*

'Kutsuwamushi' 轡虫 is the namesake of the Japanese katydid (Mecopoda niponensis). I could see at least two reasons why this FUUKIRAN is named this. One reason is that it has a unique leaf tip, that is elongated and pointy, reminding of the abdomen of a katydid. The second reason might be in its flowers which have an upturned spur, reminiscent of a katydid's antenna.

'Kutsuwamushi' is a very attractive blooming FUUKIRAN with rather compact growth. I look forward to watching my little plant grow and bloom.

Neofinetia falcata 'Kutsuwamushi' 轡虫 displayed in a Japanese pot by Bigei (Hirata Atsumi) of Tokoname**

Leaf tip of Neofinetia falcata 'Kutsuwamushi' 轡虫

Giant Katydid (Kutsuwamushi) from the "Picture Book of Insects" (Ehon Mushi Erami) by Kitagawa Utamaro, 1788; woodblock print, ink and color on paper

** This Bigei pot is made with shudei bokashi or vermilion clay and carved with four famous proverbs. Here they are in very loose translation:

Ishin-denshin 以心伝心
"Understand each other without talking"

Ishibashi-o-tataite-wataru 石橋を叩いて渡る
"Tap on a stone bridge before crossing it"

Ishi-no-ue-nimo-sannen 石の上にも三年
"Be patient even if you have to sit on a rock for three years"

Isogaba-maware 急がば回れ
"Haste makes waste"

I could apply every one of them to learning the art of growing FUUKIRAN or any other discipline for that matter!

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* The characteristics used are of the plants that I own