Japanese Archival Note Card, Laeliocattleya General Maude Var. Purple Glory by Ikeda Zuigetsu: Ranka-Fu Orchid Series

A deep crimson bloom with ruffled petals hangs against pale blue-green leaves.

This archival note card of the orchid Laeliocattleya General Maude var. Purple Glory from the Ranka-Fu orchid series is from Japan. Orchid portraits of this kind belong to a long tradition of botanical illustration, in which growers and artists recorded named hybrids and varieties by their flowers. A single flower with dark ruby petals and a golden throat sits at the upper center, backed by pale blue-green leaves and thin, pale roots below. The ground is a soft buttery yellow with a light cream border. It is 5 inches long and 7 high.

A deep red that never bothers with polite whispering.