“中国兰花”词汇溯源及定义探讨

Origin Investigation and Definition Discussion of“Chinese Orchid”

通过对“中国兰花”的形成过程进行溯源得知,这个概念成熟于1959年,是由“兰”一步步演变过来的,其成因可能是主权国家概念和现代植物学的传入。此词的形成带来了一些问题,让渡了“兰花”在相关植物中的核心地位,模糊了相关植物的评判标准,降低了“兰花”在兰界的地位等。通过对“中国兰花”的定义进行整理对比,发现当前的定义版本都不是很理想,存在没有流传较广的版本、明确的种类、特征描述、统一的英文翻译,和增加了误解的可能性等问题,于是提出了该词组新的定义:中国兰花(Chinese Orchid)是指兰属植物中被中华文化所推崇的花香叶秀的种类,主要有:春兰Cymbidium goeringii、蕙兰C.faberi、墨兰C.sinense、建兰C.ensifolium、寒兰C.kanran、莲瓣兰C.tortisepalum、春剑C.goeringii var.longibracteatum、送春C.cyperifolium var.szechuanicum等。

Through tracing the origin of the"Chinese Orchid",it is discovered that this concept matured in 1959 and evolved from the term"Lan"(orchid).The introduction of the concepts of national sovereignty and modern botany may influence its formation.However,the formation of this term has brought forth some issues,such as relinquishing the central position of"Lanhua"(orchid)among related plants,blurring the assessment criteria for these plants,and diminishing the status of"Lanhua"in the orchid community.Through comparing and analyzing the definitions of"Chinese Orchid",it is evident that the current versions are not ideal.They lack widely circulated versions,explicit species,characteristic descriptions,and unified English translations,which can lead to misunderstandings.Therefore,a new definition is proposed:Chinese Orchid refers to the type of Cymbidium plants that are revered in Chinese culture and own fragrance flowers and graceful leaves,and the main species include Cymbidium goeringii,C.faberi,C.sinense,C.ensifolium,C.kanran,C.tortisepalum,C.goeringii var.longibracteatum,C.cyperifolium var.Szechuanicum,etc.