中国梅花品种分类最新修正体系

该文系著者研究中国梅花品种分类５５年（１９４３～１９９８）之系统总结．其间经过多次探索,终于放弃了将植物学分类与园艺学分类结合、将果梅与梅花分类结合以及“二元分类”必须严格以品种演化作主线而对形态、实用常考虑不周等做法．著者在修正前订之各梅花品种分类系统后提出：品种分类层次和类型均不宜过多或太细,失之于繁琐;虽要力争品种演化为主,但亦应灵活掌握,能“二元”的就“二元”,一时达不到的不强求,形态、实用方面也要适当重视．文末提出了“中国梅花种系（种型、系统）、类、型分类检索表”,含３种系５类１８型

The New Revised System of Classification for Chinese Mei Cultivars

Mei flower cultivars (Prunus mume cv.) have been long cultivated and appreciated by the Chinese people since ancient times. They are especially admired for their extra early blooming season (mostly in February to March in Central and East China), their cold resistance,and their genetic diversity shown by abundance of cultivars. Beginning since 1943, the system of classification has been revised several times. Until recently, 323 cultivars have been described and classified. They are classified according to the so called “Dual Classification System", i.e. both evolutionary and developmental tendency as well as practical application and morphological characteristics are considered with the former of first consideration. Here, three degrees of criteria from the most important to the least are used. Thus, “original specific constitution" or “specific germplasm system" is the first class criterium, viz., True Mume Branch (true Prunus mume), Apricot Mei Branch (Hybrids between P.mume and P. armeniaca or P. sibirica) and Blireiana Branch (F 1 of P.cerasifera cv. Pissardii×P. mume). Among the True Mume Branch, several groups mainly classified according to second class criterium the gesture of branches, viz. Upright Mei Group, Pendulous Mei Group, and Tortuous Dragon Group. And the 3rd class criterium is flower characteristics (including flower size, degree of doubleness, petal color, sepal color, number of carpels etc.). The latest system represented in A Revised Key for Classifying Chinese Mei Flower Cultivars (1999) consists of 3 grades, i.e., 3 Branches, 5 Groups and 18 Forms. This is the newest revision of classification system for Chinese Mei flower cultivars. Several problems concerning principles and methods for classifying cultivars of Prunus mume are discussed.