GENTLE BLOOMS OF NEOFINETIA FALCATA 'KUTSUWAMUSHI' 轡虫

So delicate, flowers of 'Kutsuwamushi' 轡虫 are unique and very appealing. Every flower part, including the spur, tend to face upward. White, tinted with pink flowers give out a sweet aroma that gets stronger in the evening and through the night.

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

Neofinetia falcata 'Kutsuwamushi' 轡虫 flowers close up

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