In this post: http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showpost.php?p=6826&postcount=12 Mr. Shep refers to Orido nishiki and Oridono nishiki as different plants. Oridono Nishiki is not described in Vertrees 2nd edition. I would like to learn how these plants are differentiated. Would someone elaborate on the differences? Many Thanks.
He has often described stock considered same cultivar, but offered under synonymous or even misspelled names as different cultivars here. Probably a result of multiple clones being introduced, spellings not only thing that some growers sometimes generate that actualy represents a departure from an existing convention. Uninitiated or inattentive observers will not notice such subtleties.
Just noticed that Van Gelderen (1994, pg.294) indicates these are the same plant (as do many vendors.) A plant here is green and robust even into Oct!
True form Orido nishiki (golden stripes to the bark) has a primary leaf variegation color of white with pink markings. Oridono nishiki has a larger sized Spring leaf than Orido nishiki has with primary variegation color of pink with white markings. The problem that arises is that both plants have been propagated and sold as the other Maple. I had a Karasugawa come in a few years ago out of Oregon that is nothing more than the pink striped form of Orido nishiki. Even knowing the Maple was misnamed did not stop me from wanting it, as I wanted to have the pink striped form of Orido nishiki again that has a leaf size smaller than that of the old gold striped plant. Jim
Jim thanks so much. Excellent info that seems to be completely unavailable online and in the literature. This is a plant that I've been growing, it has the golden stripes as well as the white with pink. Seems it was incorrectly labeled Oridono. Does that appear to be correct?
