Heding

Ono, 1803, Honzō Kōmoku Keimo. Fang, 1930, Diannan Chahua Xiaozhu describes Heding as: “It is as big as a waterlily and the colour is blood red. The centre is full like the top of a crane’s head”. This refers to the Chinese crane with the red crest so often illustrated in Chinese and Japanese paintings. Liu, 1959, Several Famous Ornamental Plants of China gives the same description for Hedinghong and also says: “There are 6 large, outer petals in the outer whorl. In the centre the petals are broken or divided. This variety is suitable for breeding as it sets seed easily.” However the name Hedinghong was also used for a C.reticulata (Feng & Shi, 1966) and is included in Feng et al, 1981, Yunnan Shanchahua, plate, p.121 with the synonym ‘Hedingcha’. Because of the confusion it is proposed that Heding Cha be the valid name for the C.reticulata cultivar and Heding for the C.japonica while Hedinghong applies to a variegated form. Originated in China. Different readings: ‘Ho Ting’, ‘He-ting’. Japanese reading: ‘Kakuchō’. Yashiro, 1841, Kokon Yōrankō, vol.306 lists ‘Kakuchōcha’.

朱國棟、蔡燦玉，2011. 《台灣茶花族譜》，p.120.

Heding 鹤顶(Crane's Crest)。(C.japonica)红山茶。1803，中国。全牡丹〜唐子、血红色、'水百合'般大小、高心牡丹状如鹤顶、大型外瓣6枚。