Here is a
guide to showing Chrysanthemums by looking at the judging standards in Western
Australia. Other States may have slightly different standards, so it is
advisable to check with your local society.
STANDARD & CLASSIFICATION FOR THE
CHRYSANTHEMUM
Form:
(i)
Incurved - The bloom should be as nearly spherical as possible. Florets may be
either rounded or pointed at the tips forming a solid symmetrical bloom of
globular outline. The centre must be filled to form the top of the sphere.
Florets should curve gracefully with tips pointing uniformly upwards and inwards
towards the centre. There should not be any evidence of loose florets at the
base of the bloom.
(ii)
Incurving (Intermediate) - Bloom should have a globular outline. Florets may be
open in formation showing the inner colour. The bloom must have a tidy centre
with florets yet to open. Some cultivars have a gradual transition from the
incurving upper florets to the reflexing lower florets giving a pleasing
appearance.
(iii) Reflexed -
Breadth and depth should be in equal proportion. Bloom when viewed from
above should be circular in outline. Florets should reflex gracefully from the
shoulder in a downward direction and may incurve towards the stem. Centre should
be full with young florets still to unfurl. Florets may interlace or whorl
according to the cultivar.
(iv)
Reflexing - The type with stiff florets which do not form a 'shoulder'. The
outline though spiky is symmetrical with breadth and depth in proportion. (v)
Decorative - This type have all the features of the Exhibition type bloom except
size which should be as laid down in the classification. It should be
expressly noted that these are NOT exhibition blooms poorly grown, but a type of
their own, they will adhere to the Incurving (Intermediate) or Reflexing form.
Size: These types should be as large as possible, consistent with refinement
and should conform to those sizes laid down in the classification.
Colour: Should be
even and consistent and typical of the cultivar.
Freshness:
Blooms should have a crisp and fresh appearance, be free from dirt marks,
pests and blemishes caused by disease and careless handling.
Substance & Texture: Substance (thickness and strength of the floret) should be strong and firm.
Texture (fineness or coarseness of the grain of floret) should be as refined as
possible.
Foliage: The blooms own foliage must be retained and should be as fresh as
possible, of good colour and free of damage by blemish or insects.
Arrangement: Should complement the exhibit.
Defects: Shallow or
unspherical bloom. Bloom
showing disc florets. Bloom
showing more than one crown or an elongated crown or one not truly centred. Split,
twisted or malformed florets. Clipped or
bruised florets, withered or discoloured florets. Purity of bloom defiled by dirt,
pests or other causes.
Singles:
Cut: The number of blooms to a stem
must be at least four with the length of the lateral stem being approximately
twice the diameter of the bloom.
Florets: Blooms may have up to
eight rows of florets and these should be firm in texture, rounded and laying
flat to their tips. some cultivars tend to incurve or reflex at their tips. The
blooms should be of circular outline, the ray florets being evenly spaced, of
good substance and colour and fresh to tips. Where an area of contrasting color
forms a ring at the base of florets this should be regular and circular. The
disc must be circular and free from malformation and the colour free from any
suspicion of dullness and age.
Show Singles:
These are defined as a stem carrying
a single head of flowers.
Size:
Blooms should be as large as
possible, consistent with refinement.
Defects of Singles: Blooms not
circular in outline. Disc
not truly centered or showing more than one disc.
Ray florets twisted oz malformed,
bruised or damaged spent or discolored or loose.
Ray florets
unevenly spaced.
Small florets growing in disc.
Defilement by dirt or other cause.
N.B. Spatulate florets in a single should be shown in a separate class e.g.
'Wheel of Fire'.
ANEMONE:
Cushion:
This is the predominant
feature of the bloom and should be as dome shaped as possible according to the
particular cultivar. When viewed from above should be circular in outline with
no straying of cushion florets amongst the guard or outer row of florets. The
cushion should have no dimpling.
Guard Florets:
Formal - May lay flat or incurve or reflex according to cultivar, and to be of
uniform length and evenly spaced.
Informal - The florets are tubular with a spoon like or quilled end and may
incurve or reflex according to cultivar, to be of uniform length or evenly
spaced.
Size:
Blooms should be as large as possible, consistent with refinement.
SPIDER / QUILLED:
Florets may be quilled or spoon like,
radiating from the centre either straight to tip or reflexing from the centre
outwards and downwards. When viewed from above, bloom should be circular in
outline. The Centre should be full without malformed florets or undue hardness.
POMPONE and MINIATURE:
The blooms should be even in size and
at the same stage of development and evenly placed on the stem. They are usually
shown as cuts. Miniatures may be either ball shaped, anemone centered or single
form and may be shown as:
(a) under 38mm in diameter or
(b) over 38mm and under 64mm in diameter.
COLOUR CLASSIFICATION
A general classification to enable
judges and exhibitors to decide whether a cultivar is eligible to be shown in a
particular class.
B - Bronze
PU - Purple
Y - Yellow
LB - Light Bronze
R - Red
PY - Pale Yellow
P - Pink
S - Salmon
O - Other Colours
PP - Pale Pink
W - White
THE CLASSIFICATION
Section 1
Large exhibition -
Incurving and reflexed 150mm and over.
Section 3(a)
Exhibition Incurved -
Large - 130mm and over.
Section 3(b)
Exhibition Incurved -
Medium - under 130mm.
Section 4(a)
Reflexed Decoratives -
under 150mm.
Section 4(b)
Reflexing Decoratives -
under 150mm.
Section 5(a)
Intermediate Decoratives -
Large - 130mm to 150mm.
Section 5(b)
Intermediate Decoratives -
Medium - under 130mm.
Section 6(a)
Anemone - Formal.
Section 6(b)
Anemone - Informal.
Section 7
Single.
Section 8
Pompone / Miniature.
Section 10
Spider / Quilled.
Section 11
Any other type.
N.B. Judges and exhibitors are asked to
note that where a cultivar classified as 'Intermediate' is grown so that it
becomes either a true reflexed or true incurved bloom, they may be shown in the
reflex or incurve classes. On no account however should a bloom classified as
incurved or reflexed be shown in the Intermediate classes.
