19741 YAMAGUCHIAND BARRY: 1J The Culture of Rhapis in

Krvo-o Ylrracucur AND DAvrD Blnnv, Jn. Kobe,Japan and Los Angeles,California, a. S. A,

in 1774, Rhapis humilis in 1837. belonging to the Rhapis Japan "if are not indigenous to Japan. They are The first landing* Rhap;s in Japan native to the southern countries o{ , is said to hiavebeeen at the port o{ Sakai, such as South , , , near Osaka. It was in L672 that mer- and , where some chants in Sakai were licensed by the one dozen specieshave so far been de- central military government (Shogun- scribed. The two apparently undescribed ate) to trade with Chinese melchants from Thailand mentioned in and the Dutch. Until that time, contacts PnrNcrens,Volume 17, No. 1, can prob- with foreigners were allowed only at the ably be added. Of these{ourteen species, port of Nagasaki. The time was the only two are commonly cultivated in dawn of a new Japan after many hun- Japan. Rhapis encelsa (Thunberg) dreds of years of seclusion from the Henry in Rehder fRhapis flabellilormis world outside. Naturally there was an L' H6ritier ex Aiton] and Rhapis humi- intense curiosity for anything new and lis Blume. foreign. in Japanese is called The merchants of Sakai were soon Kannon-chihu and Rhapis humilis is enriched through the legal and illegal called Shyuro-chiku, with the accent on importation of the attributes o{ civiliza- the "o." Kannon-chikt means a bam- tion. They proudly lived in the western boolike that came from Kannon- mode, sitting in Chinese chairs and zan, a temple (or a mountain) in the drinking port with Portuguese uid,rio. Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa). Shyuro- In the drawing room of such a merchant, chiku means a bamboolike Shyuro, the on an ebony table, also {rom China, one name for Trachycarpuslortunei (W. J. would find a Kannon-chilru planted. in Hooker) H. Wendland. an imported pot. It matched well The first appearance of these two the exotic mood of the room. and the Rhapis in Japan is considered to be owner found it an ideal house plant as it some time in an early year of the ITth would grow in the shade. He presented Century. The name Shyuro-chikw ap- it to the feudal lord, perhaps also with pearedin a book dated 1666. In another wine and blankets, in appreciation of book printed in1694, there is a descrip- the authority to import rifles for his tion, "Shyuro-chiku are like lordship. The lord marvelled at this Shyuro, stems like ." The name exotic plant. It was in pleasing harmony Kannon-chiltu is seen in a book printed with the typical Japanese rooms of his in 1709. Later, in a book dated 1818, it castle. Besides,rhe plant could be ad- o'A is stated, plant named Kannon-chiku mired equally from all directions, the came from Ryukyu. It is a kind of stems radiating in six directions, Shyuro." Records of this kind indicate spiraling up the trunk clockwise so the that Trachycarpus came to Japan before sixth leaf would come directly above the Rhapis palms. Incidentally, Rhapis the first. The feudal lord offered it to excelsa was introduced to Europe from the Shogunate in the capital, Yedo, now PRINCIPES t\-o1.1B

I. The President of the Japan Kannon-Shyuro-chiku lssociation at th,.' irirrdirrg c,'n'nriny oJ the 9th All-Japan Concourse,Hanarnatsu Citv. -\pril. 19.2.

Tokyo, as a plant of good luck and \\-as introduced sometime llefore the "Kannon- esteem. The Shogun, in his turn, pre- Meiji Restoration. , From sented of{shoots o{ his plant to other chiku and Sh-vuro-chiku" ln' Y. Okita.) local lords, who treasured the gifts as To sum up. the popularization of symbols of honor. Rhapis began approrimatelv lttt) years Thus, Kannon-chiku and Shyur o-chiku aso, after 200 )'ears c'f cultivation found their way into the gardens and restricted to the prilileged class. During drawing rooms of the aristocrats and this period, propagation l as lir. division, the rich. As time went on, and as the as Rhapis is not disposetl to produce plants became more popular, some seed in Japan. The climate is blamed Samurai of lower classesbegan to grow {or this lack. but more probabll- it rr-as them for side income. It afforded also a due to the dioecious character of the good meansfor the Samurai to approach genus. It is remarkable that in the days personagesof higher rank, and many before thermometers. heaters and glass followers appeared. The restoration of houses, the subtropical Kannon-chiku Meiji in 1867 abolished feudalism and lr-as kept alive during the Japanese the caste o{ Samurai. This change uinters. brought the plant of lords within the At that time, Kannon-chiku (Rhapis reach of the common people. At about excelsa) was considered to be a dwar{ this time, the striped or variegated variety ol Shyuro-chiku (R. huntilis) Kannon-chilcu appeared. It was first which had already been introduced mentioned in a book published in 1839. and which could be planted out in As to the first variegatedShyuro-chiku gardens as it was the hardier. By and (Rhapis humilis), no date for its dis- by, the dijfference between the two covery is recorded,but as tradition says plants was observed, and in a recent it was known in the early Meiji era, it is book by T. Yoshida, the following assumedthat the striped Shyuro-chilru characteristics are described: 79741 YAMAGUCHIAND BARRY: RHAPIS 77

Kannon-ch,ihu Shyuro-chilcu Rhapis excelsa Rhapis humilis Leaves Dark green, thick, Light green, thin, minutely serrulate faintly serrulate margin. margin. Leaflets not many Leaflets many (maximum 12) (maxim-um 32)

Stem Height 2 m., ..- Height 4-5 m., diameler 21/z- diamerer Lr/z- 37/z cm. 2Yz cm. Root Flexible Less flexible and likely to break -8oC. Temperature Cannot withstand. Withstands minus minus 3oC. for more than l0 hours. Varieties B6 9

There are more than 150 horticultural species besides Rhapis excelsa and varieties of Rhapis now being cultivated Rhapis humilis were imported and in Japan, including seedlings and un' remain in the parentage of cultivated registered plants. Each registered kind plants. is given a Japanesehorticultural name, Between 1933 and 1939 some alert identified by the number, length, type, enthusiasts and nurserymen went to color and variegation, if any, of the Formosa to collect Rhapis. At that time leaves, and by the length and thickness Formosa was a territory of Japan and of the . These varieties are there were no travel restrictions. These grouped into five clones: collectors probably brought back all o{ the different kinds of Rhapis being multiplied Traditional clone-plants grown there at that time. Many of these plants imported in the old from imports were in a variety of leaf forms, the Ryukyu Islands. days from and were sold at high prices as new imported Formosan clone-plants kinds of Kannon-chilru. plants from Formosa, or Chinese The addition of these new kinds imported through Formosa. spurred to a peak the already intense imported di- Chinese clone-plants interest in this plant. In I93B the Japan rectly from China. Kannon-chiku Union was organized' Its imported Imported clone-plants first All-Japan Concourse was held in Formosa from countries other than the next year, and the first Ranking and China. Table was published in 1940. It contained raised in Seedling clone-plants Japan 35 kinds oL Kannon-chilcu and Shyuro' from seed. chiku. The activity was great, and a real In the old days any plant that looked boom in Rhapis was under way. This, like a Kannon-chilcu was called by that however, was quickly quenched by the name. There was no regard for names outbreak of World War II in 1941, leav- or origins. It is probable that other ing behind it an episode when a profi- 7B PRINCIPES [\ro]. 1B

,: :t :. t- + .4.

2. At a contest hall. teer of the boom donated the cost of an the cease-fire in 19-15 cultural activity airplane to both army and navy. Many began again. Br l9l7 a ne\\' Rhapis palms were destroyed during the war, association had been formed and named but some plants did survive, and after Nihon Kanso Kai tJapan Kannon, Shyu-

3. A main exhibition table with framed Rankinq Tables. r9741 YAMAGUCHIAND BARRY: RHAPIS 79 ro-chiku Association). The ranking table \vas revised with 47 Kannon-chilru and 3 Shyuro-chihu, and the All-Japan Con- course was held in 1949, showing rapid revival of the feverish interest in Rhapis. Thus, the second boom began. This time, variegated plants played the leading role. W'ith improved tech- niques many variegated plants were pro- duced from the Formosan clones, and exorbitant prices quoted for such plants inflated the boom until it was considered abnormal. At last, in 1951 a depression began and prices continued to decline until 1961. The reason w€rs over-pro- duction of green plants from better 4. Prize winners and trophies. heating systems and a large increase in the number of speculators. Some so- the ranking table in descending order phisticated collectors bousht variegated of importance, there are about forty plants reasonably during this period kinds of variegated Rhapis. and carried them along until the third The retail nursery catalogue prices boom began. This one reached a peak of less important variegated Rhapis in 7967. and then hit bottom in 1970. range from about Yen 500,000: $1,850 While it lasted, the fever was frantic for a very good plant to Yen 200,000 and many beautifully variegated plants = $740 {or a good one. The lowest- were developed and exhibited. priced variegated plants from nursery At present (July 1973) a fourth boom - catalogues are Yen 10,000 $37.50, is getting under way. For the first time and a large nursery in Tokyo requires a new element is present-the purchase a minimum purchase of Such of Rhapis as an inflation hedge, as with $1,000. is the scale of the Rhapis business in gold or diamonds. In 1972 a new star o{ the variegated Japan. does not depend on size, but Kannon-chikl was found among the Value on the refinement and elegance of a seedlings raised by a Formosan enthu- plant. A low-grown, densely foliaged siast. It was brought into Japan, propa- plant variega- gated and registered with the name with evenly dispersed tion leaves has the highest 'Eizan Nishiki'. There are but a few on flawless Parti-colored or over-abundantly plants, perhaps ten, of this kind in value. variegated plants are evaluated only Japan, and it is the most expensive as mother plants {or obtaining offshoots Rhapis of the present with prices quoted of desirable patterns. The way in which from to per plant. $20,000 $80,000 a yellow stripe is streaked on a leaf is plant is 'Nanzan The next in rating frequently a matter of several hundred Nishiki', another beautifully variegated dollars. plant from Formosa. It is more plenti- As the variegated Rhapis are so much ful, perhaps with as many as fifty plants appreciated, many attempts have been in the country, and the prices asked made to induce variegation on green are $15,000 to $20,000. Going down plants. Exposure to X rays or Gamma BO PRINCIPES tVol. 18

5. An auction of professionals.

rays {rom Cobalt-60; Isotope bath; are inconvenient to transport and to treatment with Alchyl compounds known caress. When o{{shootsare wanted they to induce mutation" such as N. mus- are readily taken from small plants tard dioxibutan, and anti-metabolic not over 50 cm. (20 in.) in height. substancessuch as S-Bromouracil; ap- The pots used for Rhapis are so stan- plication of checking substance of nu- dardized as to be ritualized. They are clear fission such as colchicine,etc., etc. of clay and are glazed black to gather But all these trials were unsuccessful. maximum warmth from the sun. They (From'oKannon-chiku, Shyuro-chiku," come in sizes from 9 to 24 crr'. (3r/z to by T. Yoshida.) Some scholarsare try- 91/z in.) inside diameter, and have ing to prove that the variegation is a large drainage holes. The form is urn- work of a virus" but no conclusion has like with flat rim and a round bottom yet been given, and the cause of this supported by three legs. Expensive phenomenon is a mystery for the variegated plants are usually contained moment. in gorgeouslydecorated pots, with hand- The outstanding element in the painted, raised patterns, and often with culture oI Rhapis in Japan is the stan- gilt rims and legs. Such a pot will cost dard practice of growing small plants more than $100. The beauty of the only and always in pots. The finest pot is not considered in the competi- exhibition plants range from 20 to tions, but naturally a pleasing match 50 cm. (B to 20 in.) in height. In semi- between pot and plant makes an elegant tropical and tropical countries when presentation. planted in the ground, Rhapis excelso The potting medium is coarse sand will reach a height of two meters, and of weathered granite. This rather Rhapis humilis a height of four meters. unusual medium, being without humus, Japanesedo not grow tall plants, which imposesa stresscondition on the plants. r9741 YAMAGUCHIAND BARRY: RHAPIS BI

'Hakusei-den', Rhapis humilis a variegated clone.

Rhapis humilis or Shyuro-chiku grown 6. to water the plants. In lo maturesize. and how often spite of such care, some variegated Rhapis will occasionally lose their This promotes deviations from the striping or gradually enlarge the varie- natural and normal {oliage forms as gated portion until the entire lea{ be- plant lvell as striped variegations. According comes albinized. Such a is called plant, plants to Toshihiko Satake, the leading palm a weak as against strong collector in Japan, when Rhapis are with a stable variegation. taken from the pot and freed from, All the variegated Rhapis registered ttthe to quote him, severe potting con- by the Association are considered to dition consisting of the use o{ coarse be strong plants. A condition of regis- sand" and planted in the ground, they 'rvill return to their original charac- teristics, even when their leaves are distinctly different from those of normal plants. As for food, a liberal amount o{ manure is given to obtain offshoots from green plants, but it is given sparsely to variegated plants. In either case, because of the coarse medium, the effective elements of the manure are washed away by watering, and do not stay long in the pot. It is a secret B. A clone of. Rhapis excelsa called.'Nanzan' oI each grower how to give manures Nishiki' is also variegated. 82 PRINCIPES [Vol. 18

L0. Rhapis excelsa 'Ztiko-Nishiki' is grown in quantity.

matsu City ]n 1972; the fth will be in Sakai in April 1974. Apart from this association, scien- tific study oI Rhapis is being conducted 'Mangetsu' by a few scholars, of which the fore- is a clone ol Rhapis excelsa 9. most from Formosa. is Toshihiko Satake,a director of The Palm Society. He has assembled one of the great collections of palms, tration {or variegated plants is that with more than 450 species. Among similar variegation should appear in at the Rhapis are more than 40 kinds least three consecutive propagations when species and varietal clones are -mother plant, offshoot and grand- counted together. The number of spe- offshoot. cies o{ Rhapis is unique, and most of The association Nihon Kanso Kai. them do not appearto be in horticulture or the Japan Kannon, Shyuro-chiku outside of his collection. Amone them Association, is conducted by a forty- are the following: member board of directors, supported Species Origin by 1500 direct members and a chapter Rhapis Burret Kuangsi, China in almost every prefecture in the lililormls R, gracilis Burrct Kuangsi, country. A general meeting is held China R. laosensis Beccari Laos every year in November, when a R. micrantha Beccari West Tonkin nomination committee is elected to R. multilida Barret China examine the applications filed for R. robusta Btrret registration. The committee also com- China Rhapis with distinctive stable foliar charac- piles a new Ranking Table for the "ele- teristics designated informally as R. year. plants "granilifolin," "minor," next The newly registered gans," R. R. anel "ptychophylla." are introduced .on the left column o{ R. the Table, and the ranking Ranking Mr. Satake considers that the coun- plants The order of other is revised. tries of origin given for these palms Association also holds an All-Japan are correct but that some of the names Concourse from time to time, and of the plants are assumptions due to generousprizes are given to the winners. the incompletetaxonomy on the genus. The 8th Concourse was held at Hama- A recent solicitation of representa- t9741 YAMAGUCHI AND BARRY: RHAPIS 6J tive nurseries in Japan showed that decorativevalue. Of course,the activity thesespecies oI Rhapis are not available oI the Rhapis Association is an impor' {rom them. On the other hand, they tant supporting faitor. do offer many kinds of named clones. The principal reason,however, is that In a recent letter Toshihiko Satake in Japan Rhapis are grown in Pots stated that when the Ranking Table and are not planted out. This makes it lor Rhapis was first published 15 years easy to shelter the plants inside during ago he procured all of these plants winter and for people without gardens listed for observation in cultivation. to grow them. Besides, with the plants After growing them for some time, close at hand close observation with it became impossible to differentiate better care is easy. between most of them. Even the plants A pine tree in the garden will reach that deviated the most in appearance ten meters without particular care. {rom that of the typical Rhapis excelsa This does not satisfy Japaneselovers form returned to it when planted in of plants. They want to bring into their soil. rooms a fi{ty-year-old pine tree potted He went on to say that there are, in a small container, and to be able to none the less, plants that are stable live with it in close proximity. The "Bonsai" and hold their variegation even when unique art of was developed planted in the ground. In the unstable for this purpose. The meaning of "Bonsai" plants the white or yellow striping is literally tray-culture, refer- will burn and turn brown in bright ring to the traylike, shallow containers light. This will happen even with used. A pot of Rhapis is not Bonsai stable plants except for the following in a strict sense, but it is called that 'Nazan three: 'Zuikon Nishiki', Nishiki', in a wider meaning. This is natural, 'Eizan Nishiki'. The stability of the as many of the techniques of growing first includes hereditary traits. Mr. Bonsai are used with Rhapis. Satake stated that he set seeds on this For these many reasons Rhapis is kind and obtained seedlingswhich were not grown tall in Japan. Very recenlly, variegated white and green. however, with Japanese living more There are many reasons why Rhapis westernized,demand has appeared for palms are so popular and so widely full-grown Rhapis for the decoration grown in Japan, and to an extent not of halls and entrances,and some nur- found elsewhere. To begin with, these serymen have started pioduction of oriental palms in Japan combine very such plants in large containers. These nicely a hobby with a profit. Further, are all-green plants at present, but the development of the variegated ]eaf some day a big, variegated Rhapls with changed a plain, all-green plant with beautiful stripes may win the first prize inconspicuousflowers into one of vivid, at the Concourse.