ORCHIDACEAE
Cymbidium Sw., Nova Acta Regiae Soc. Sci. Upsal. 6: 70 (1799).
Cyperorchis Blume; Jensoa Raf.
By: Bhakta B. Raskoti
Taxon Description
Epiphytic, lithophytic, rarely terrestrial or heteromycotrophic herbs. Pseudobulbs cylindric, ovoid, ellipsoid, or spindle-shaped, enclosed in leaf sheaths, base containing stout roots. Pseudostem stout, short, leafy, elongated and noded. Leaves usually distichous, linear or rarely oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, often articulate toward base. Inflorescence sheathed, erect suberect to pendulous; sterile bracts absent, rachis with solitary to several flowers, floral bracts persistent. Flowers showy, generally large in size, fully or half opening; pedicel and ovary ribbed. Sepals, petals and lip free and usually spreading. Petals subsimilar to dorsal sepal. Lip entire, obscurely or distinctly 3-lobed, disk usually with 2 calli. Column long, winged, foot absent; anther bilocular; pollinia 2, globular, pyriform or ovoid. Fruit a capsules, ellipsoid to cylindric.
Taxon Statistics
Worldwide about 55 species in tropical and subtropical C Asia, S Asia, SE Asia, E, W Himalaya and Australasia. 11 species and one variety in Nepal.
Key to Species
1 a Leaves leathery………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………..2
b Leaves not leathery (papery)………………………………………………..…….……………………………………………………………………………………………………..4
2 a Leaves petiolate, oblong-oblanceolate, apex unlobed (entire). Lip entire……..…………………………………………………………4. C. devonianum
b Leaves without petiole, linear, apex emarginate. Lip 3-lobed ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………3
3 a Lateral lobe of lip acute. Sepals and petals with a broad, maroon-brown stripe……………………..…………………………………..1. C. aloifolium
b Lateral lobe of the lip obtuse. Sepals and petals with a broad, dark red stripe…………………………………………………………..2. C. crassifolium
4 a Pseudobulbs cylindric, not flattened…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………..5
b Pseudobulbs ovoid or ellipsoid, bilaterally compressed, ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..6
5 a Leaves lanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate. Petals oblanceolate. Lip ovate-oblong………………………………………………….…11. C. lancifolium
b Leaves linear. Petals lanceolate. Lip oblong……………………………..………………………………………………………………………………….3. C. cyperifolium
6 a Sepals and petals without striations…………………………….……………….……….………………………………………………………………………………………………7
b Sepals and petals with distinct striations.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..9
7 a Sepals and petals green. Lip spotted, margin ciliate……………………………………………………………………………………………………9. C. hookerianum
b Sepals and petals white or yellow. Lip without spots, margin entire……………………………………………………………………………………………………….8
8 a Apex of the leaves emarginate. Sepals and petals uniformly white…………………………………………………………………………………..5. C. eburneum
b Apex of the leaves entire. Sepals and petals uniformly yellow……………………………………………………………………………………………….6. C. elegans
9 a Leaves more than 1 cm wide. Mid-lobe of the lip with distinctly erose margin………………………………………………………………..…10. C. iridioides
b Leaves less than 1 cm wide. Mid-lobe of the lip with entire margin…………………………………………………………………………………………………………10
10 a Sepals and petals yellowish-green with brownish striations. Lip cream-yellow with brownish spots. Petals oblong……..8. C. gammieanum
b Sepals and petals green with reddish-brown striations and spots. Lip white with red-brown veins on lateral lobes and
red-brown spots on mid-lobe. Petals falcately oblong…………………………………………………………………………………………………………7. C. erythraeum
1. Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) Sw., Nova Acta Regiae Soc. Sci. Upsal. 6: 73 (1799).
Epidendrum aloifolium L., Sp. Pl.: 953 (1753); Cymbidium pendulum (Rox.) Sw.
Plants 20–50 cm tall. Pseudobulbs ovoid, bilaterally compressed, 3–8 × 2–4 cm, covered by leaf bases. Leaves sessile, leathery, linear, 13–70 × 1.5–4 cm, apex obtuse, unequally emarginate. Inflorescence arising from base of the pseudobulb, drooping, 10–30-flowered, 25–74 cm; peduncle with 2–4 sheaths, sheaths lanceolate, 10–20 × 1–3 mm, apex acute. Floral bracts ovate, ca. 2–4 × 1–1.5 mm, apex acute; shorter than pedicel and ovary. Flowers 2–3.5 cm across, sepals and petals pale yellow with a broad central maroon-brown stripe, lip cream-colored containing longitudinal maroon stripes. Pedicel and ovary 15–45 mm. Dorsal sepal oblong, 12–20 × 4–6 mm, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal. Petals elliptic-oblong, 14–18 × 4–6 mm, apex obtuse. Lip subovate, 13–18 × 6–8 mm, decurved, 3-lobed; lateral lobes ovate-lanceolate, 1–1.5 × 1 mm, erect, margin glabrous, apex acute; mid-lobe ovate, 5 × 4 mm, margin glabrous, straight, apex obtuse; disk papillate, containing 2 minutely hairy calli. Column 8–10 mm. Fruit oblong-ellipsoid.
Distribution: Nepal, E Asia, S Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1500–2400 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on tree trunks or large branches in open forest.
Flowering: April–May. Fruiting: August.
2. Cymbidium crassifolium Herb., Proc. Hort. Soc. London 42 (1838).
Cymbidium bicolor subsp. obtusum Du Puy & P.J. Cribb; Cymbidium mannii Rchb.f.
Plants 40–50 cm tall. Pseudobulbs ovoid, bilaterally compressed, 3–6 × 2–4 cm, covered by leaf bases. Leaves sessile, leathery, linear, 30–60 × 1.5–2 cm, apex obtuse, unequally emarginate. Inflorescence arising from base of the pseudobulb, drooping, 5–20-flowered, 25–74 cm; peduncle with 2–4 sheaths, sheaths lanceolate, 30–35 × 4–5 mm, apex acute. Floral bracts triangular, 1.5–4 × 1–1.5 mm, apex acute; shorter than pedicel and ovary. Flowers 2–4 cm across, sepals and petals pale yellow dominated by longitudinal central dark red broad striation, lip cream-colored containing dominated dark red stripes. Pedicel and ovary 10–40 mm. Dorsal sepal oblong, 15–20 × 4–6 mm, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal. Petals elliptic-oblong, 14–18 × 4–6 mm, apex obtuse. Lip subovate, 12–18 × 6–10 mm, decurved, 3-lobed; lateral lobes ovate, 1–1.5 × 1 mm, margin glabrous, apex obtuse; mid-lobe ovate, 5 × 5 mm, recurved, margin not ciliate, straight, apex obtuse; disk papillate, containing 2 sparsely hairy calli. Column 8–10 mm. Fruit oblong-ellipsoid.
Distribution: Nepal, E Asia, S Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 900-1000 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on tree trunks or large branches of tall trees.
Flowering: April–May. Fruiting: August.
3. Cymbidium cyperifolium Wall. ex Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 163 (1833).
Plants 30–40 cm tall. Pseudobulbs cylindric, slightly tapering, 2–3 × 1–2 cm, covered by leaf bases. Leaves sessile, papery, linear, 30–70 × 0.4–0.6 cm, apex acute, unlobed. Inflorescence arising from base of the pseudobulb, erect, 2–3-flowered, 30–39 cm; peduncle with 4–5 sheaths, sheaths lanceolate, 40–50 × 4–5 mm, apex acuminate. Floral bracts linear-lanceolate, 20–30 × 1–2 mm, apex acute; shorter, equal or longer than pedicel and ovary. Flowers 4 cm across, sepals and petals yellowish green with longitudinal purple striations, lip yellowish green containing purple spots; pedicel and ovary 20–30 mm. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, 20–34 × 4–5 mm, apex acute. Lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal. Petals lanceolate, 16–20 × 5–7 mm, apex acuminate. Lip oblong, 12–15 × 7–10 mm, decurved, 3-lobed; lateral lobes semi-elliptic, 5 × 5 mm, margin and inner surface ciliate, apex rounded; mid-lobe oblong-ovate, 9–13 × 7–12 mm, margin ciliate, straight, apex obtuse; disk papillate, containing 2 longitudinal hairy calli. Column 10 mm. Fruit (not seen).
Distribution: Nepal, E Asia, Tibetan Plateau, E Himalaya and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1500–2400 m.
Ecology: Terrestrial on Forest thickets or lithophytic on rock slopes.
Flowering: June–July. Fruiting: August–September.
4. Cymbidium devonianum Paxton, Paxton’s Mag. Bot. 10: 97 (1843).
Cymbidium sikkimense Hook.f.
Plants 20–40 cm tall. Pseudobulbs cylindric, 2–2.5 × 1–1.5 cm, covered by leaf bases. Leaves petiolate, petiole (including sheathing base) 9–18 cm, leathery, oblong-oblanceolate, 14–30 × 2.5–5 cm, apex acute, unlobed. Inflorescence arising from base of the pseudobulb, drooping, 15–20-flowered, 25–30 cm; peduncle with 4–7 sheaths, sheaths lanceolate, 10–50 × 5–10 mm, apex obtuse. Floral bracts ovate-lanceolate, 2–3 × 1.5–3 mm, apex acute; shorter than pedicel and ovary. Flowers 3–4 cm across, sepals and petals yellowish green with purplish brown marks, lip flushed with dark red bloches. Pedicel and ovary 7–10 mm. Dorsal sepal elliptic, 20–25 × 5–7 mm, apex acute. Lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal. Petals elliptic-lanceolate, 12–16 × 5–6 mm, apex acute. Lip obcordate, 10–14 × 10–12 mm, slightly decurved, entire, apex broadly obtuse; disk containing 2 hairy calli near base. Column 10 mm. Fruit oblong-ellipsoid.
Distribution: Nepal, E Asia, E Himalaya, SE Asia and S Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1500–2400 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on tree trunks or lithophytic on rocks.
Flowering: March–April. Fruiting: August–November.
5. Cymbidium eburneum Lindl., Edwards’s Bot. Reg. 33: t. 67 (1847).
Cymbidium eburneum var. williamsianum Rchb.f., Cymbidium syringodorum Griff.
Plants 20–45 cm tall. Pseudobulbs ovoid-globose, bilaterally compressed, 4–9 × 2–3.5 cm, covered by leaf bases. Leaves sessile, papery, linear, 25–55 × 1–2.5 cm, apex acuminate, unequally emarginate. Inflorescence arising from the leaf axils, suberect, 1–2-flowered, 25–40 cm; peduncle with 5–7 sheaths, sheaths lanceolate, 6–8.5 × 0.5–1 mm, apex acute. Floral bracts ovate-triangular, 6–20 × 1–1.5 mm, apex acute; shorter than pedicel and ovary. Flowers 5–8 cm across, sepals and petals uniformly white, lip white with a yellow patch. Pedicel and ovary 25–35 mm. Dorsal sepal oblong-obovate, 55–70 × 15–20 mm, apex acute. Lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal. Petals obovate, 55–60 × 10–15 mm, apex acute. Lip broadly elliptic, 40–50 × 20–25 mm, decurved, 3-lobed; lateral lobes subelliptic, 30–40 × 10–15 mm, glabrous, apex rounded; mid-lobe ovate-triangular, 15–2 × 15–18 mm, margin undulate, glabrous, apex acute to obtuse; disk papillate, containing 2 longitudinal hairy calli. Column 35–40 mm. Fruit (not seen).
Distribution: Nepal, S Asia, C Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1000–1500 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on tree trunks in open forests.
Flowering: Apri–May. Fruiting: July–November.
6. Cymbidium elegans Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 163 (1833).
Cyperorchis elegans (Lindl.) Blume
Plants 20–40 cm tall. Pseudobulbs subovoid, bilaterally compressed, 3–4 × 2–3 cm, covered by leaf bases. Leaves sessile, papery, linear, 30–50 × 1–1.5 cm, apex acuminate, unequally emarginate. Inflorescence arising from side of the pseudobulb, arching, 25–60-flowered, 35–40 cm; peduncle with 4–5 sheaths, sheaths linear, 7–16 × 0.5–1 cm, apex acute. Floral bracts triangular, 2–4 × 1.5–2 mm, apex acute; shorter than pedicel and ovary. Flowers 3–4 cm across, sepals and petals uniformly yellow, lip bright yellow with a orange blotch. Pedicel and ovary 10–12 mm. Dorsal sepal obovate-lanceolate, 20–30 × 5–10 mm, apex acute. Lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal. Petals broadly linear-oblanceolate, 20–30 × 5–6 mm, apex obtuse. Lip oblanceolate-triangular, 3–4 × 4–7 mm, straight, 3-lobed; lateral lobes ovate-triangular, 5–7 mm, erect, margin glabrous, apex obtuse; mid-lobe oblong, 6–10 × 5–8 mm, margin undulate, glabrous, apex emarginate; disk papiliate, containing 2 longitudinal hairy lamellae. Column 28–32 mm. Fruit oblong-ellipsoid.
Distribution: Nepal, S Asia, C Asia, S Asia and Tibetan Plateau.
Altitudinal range: 1700–2800 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on tree trunks or lithophytic on mossy rocks.
Flowering: September–November. Fruiting: Throughout the year.
Cymbidium elegans Lindl. var. elegans
Plants 40–73 cm tall. Callus without an appendage.
Distribution: Nepal, Assam-Burma, S Asia, C Asia, S Asia and E Himalaya.
Altitudinal range: 1700–2800 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on tree trunks or lithophytic on cliffs on sunny areas.
Flowering: September–November. Fruiting: Throughout the year.
7. Cymbidium erythraeum Lindl., J. Proc. Linn. Soc. Bot. 3: 30 (1858).
Plants 47–60 cm tall. Pseudobulbs ovoid, bilaterally compressed, 2–6 × 1.5–3 cm, covered by leaf bases. Leaves sessile, papery, linear, 30–70 × 0.6–1 cm, apex acuminate, unlobed. Inflorescence arising from base of the pseudobulb, suberect or arching, rachis 3–8-flowered, 30–50 cm; peduncle with 3–4 sheaths, sheaths narrowly lanceolate, 4–5 × 0.5–1 cm, apex acuminate. Floral bracts subtriangular, ca. 3–4 × 1–1.5 mm, apex acute; shorter than pedicel and ovary. Flowers 5–8 cm across, sepals and petals green with reddish brown longitudinal striations and spots, lip white with red-brown spots on lateral lobes and a few red-brown spots on mid-lobe. Pedicel and ovary 20–30 mm. Dorsal sepal oblong-oblanceolate 30–44 × 7–10 mm, apex acute. Lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal. Petals falcately oblong, 30–40 × 5–10 cm, apex acute. Lip elliptic-ovate, 20–40 × 8–12 cm, decurved, 3-lobed; lateral lobes subovate, 5 × 2 mm, erect, ciliate at apical potion, apex obtuse; mid-lobe 8–9 × 10–11 mm, margin ciliate, undulate, apex acute or obtuse; disk papillate, containing 2 longitudinal hairy calli. Column 30–40 mm. Fruit oblong-ellipsoid.
Distribution: Nepal, E Asia, Tibetan Plateau, E Himalaya, S Asia and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1500–2400 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on tree trunks or lithophytic on rock slopes.
Flowering: September–October. Fruiting: March–June.
8. Cymbidium × gammieanum King and Pantl. J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 64(2): 339 (1895).
Plants 30–40 cm tall. Pseudobulbs ovoid, bilaterally compressed, 4–8 × 2–3 cm, covered by leaf bases. Leaves sessile, papery, linear, 20–50 × 0.5–1 cm, apex acute, unlobed. Inflorescence arising from near base of the pseudobulb, arching, 4–13-flowered, 15–20 cm; peduncle with 4–5 sheaths, sheaths linear, 6–8 × 2–3 mm, apex acuminate. Floral bracts ovate, 3–4 × 1–1.5 mm, apex acute; shorter than pedicel and ovary. Flowers 3–4 cm across, sepals and petals yellowish green with brownish longitudinal striations, lip cream-yellow with brown spots. Pedicel and ovary 15–20 mm. Dorsal sepal linear-oblanceolate, 30–35 × 3–4 mm, apex acute. Lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal. Petals falcately oblong, 25–30 × 4–5 mm, apex acute. Lip elliptic-ovate, 20–30 × 8–10 mm, decurved, 3-lobed; lateral lobes ovate-triangular, 4–5 × 3–4 mm, erect, margin ciliate, apex obtuse; mid-lobe suborbicular, 5–7 × 4–6 mm, margin glabrous, undulate, apex obtuse; disk ciliate, containing 2 longitudinal hairy calli. Column 30 mm. Fruit oblong-ellipsoid.
Distribution: Nepal and S Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1500–2400 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic in moss on tree trunks or large branches.
Flowering: October. Fruiting: November–August.
9. Cymbidium hookerianum Rchb. f., Gard. Chron. 1866: 7 (1866).
Cymbidium grandiflorum Griff.; Cyperorchis grandiflora (Griff.) Schltr.
Plants 45–55 cm tall. Pseudobulbs ellipsoid to ovoid, bilaterally compressed, 2–4 × 2–3 cm, covered by leaf bases. Leaves sessile, papery, linear, 37–54 × 1–2 cm, apex acute, unlobed. Inflorescence arising from near base of the pseudobulb, suberect, 4–8-flowered, 25-40 cm; peduncle with 4–7 sheaths, sheaths lanceolate, 8–14 × 1–1.5 cm, apex acute. Floral bracts ovate-triangular, 3–4 × 1–1.5 mm, apex acute; shorter than pedicel and ovary. Flowers 5–9 cm across, sepals and petals uniformly green, lip white with purple-brown spots and a dark brown line on mid-lobe. Pedicel and ovary 20–30 mm. Dorsal sepal oblong, 30–40 × 12–20 mm, apex acute. Lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal. Petals oblong-oblanceolate, 30–45 × 10–12 mm, apex acute. Lip subelliptic, 30–40 mm, decurved, 3-lobed; lateral lobes ovate-triangular, 7 × 6 mm, erect, margin ciliate, apex acute; mid-lobe ovate, 10 × 10 mm, margin ciliate, erose and undulate; disk containing 2 longitudinal hairy calli. Column 30–40 mm. Fruit oblong-ellipsoid.
Distribution: Nepal, E Asia, Tibetan Plateau, E Himalaya and SE Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1500–2400 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic in moss on tree trunks or large branches.
Flowering: January–April. Fruiting: June–August.
10. Cymbidium iridioides D. Don, Prodr. Fl. Nepal.: 36 (1825).
Cymbidium giganteum Wall. ex Lindl.; Iridorchis gigantean Blume
Plants 40–60 cm tall. Pseudobulbs ovoid, bilaterally compressed, 4–6 × 3–4 cm, covered by leaf bases. Leaves sessile, papery, linear, 40–71 × 1–2 cm, apex acute, unlobed. Inflorescence arising from the base of the pseudobulb, suberect, 3–10-flowered, 20–60 cm; peduncle with 4–7 sheaths, sheaths lanceolate, 5–10 × 0.5–1.5 cm, apex acute. Floral bracts ovate, ca. 3–4 × 1–1.5 mm, apex acute; shorter than pedicel and ovary. Flowers 6–10 cm across, sepals and petals yellowish green with brownish longitudinal striations, lip white with reddish-brown blotches on mid-lobe. Pedicel and ovary 25–40 mm. Dorsal sepal broadly lanceolate, 50–56 × 15–20 mm, apex acute. Lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal. Petals falcately ovate-oblong, 47–55 × 9–10 mm, apex acute. Lip ovate-triangular, 30–40 × 25–30 mm, decurved, 3-lobed; lateral lobes elliptic to ovate-triangular, 10 × 10 mm, margin ciliate, apex obtuse; mid-lobe ovate, 20 × 20 mm, margin erose, undulate, ciliate, apex obtuse; disk containing 2 longitudinal hairy calli. Column 30–40 mm. Fruit oblong-ellipsoid.
Distribution: Nepal, E Asia, Tibetan Plateau, E Himalaya, SE Asia and S Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1500–2400 m.
Ecology: Epiphytic on tree trunks or large branches, particularly in shaded areas.
Flowering: June–July. Fruiting: August–September.
11. Cymbidium lancifolium Hook., Exot. Fl. 1: t. 51 (1823).
Cymbidium aspidistrifolium Fukuy.; Cymbidiopsis lancifolia (Hook) H. D. Chaudhary
Plants 14–25 cm tall. Pseudobulbs cylindric, tapering, 2–3 × 0.5–1 cm, covered by sheaths and leaf bases. Leaves petiolate, petiole (including sheathing base) 3–10 cm, papery, lanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate, 8–20 × 2–3 cm, apex acuminate, unlobed. Inflorescence arising from an internode of the pseudobulb, erect, 1–6-flowered, 11–15 cm; peduncle with 3–5 sheaths, sheaths lanceolate, 1.5–2 × 0.4–0.5 cm, apex acute. Floral bracts lanceolate, 10–17 × 1–2 mm, apex acute; shorter than pedicel and ovary. Flowers 2–3 cm across, sepals and petals white with purplish brown marks along mid-vein specially on sepals, lip white with dark purple brown patches. Pedicel and ovary 25–30 mm. Dorsal sepal oblanceolate, 20–26 × 5–6 mm, apex acute. Lateral sepals similar to dorsal sepal. Petals oblanceolate, 15–22 × 5–6 mm, apex acute. Lip ovate-oblong, 10–15 × 8–10 mm, decurved, 3-lobed; lateral lobes semi-elliptic, ca. 3 × 2 mm, erect, margin glabrous, apex obtuse; mid-lobe broadly ovate, 6–12 × 6–12 mm, margin glabrous and undulate, apex acute; disk containing 2 longitudinal glabrous calli. Column 10–12 mm. Fruit ellipsoid.
Distribution: Nepal, S Asia, C Asia and S E Asia.
Altitudinal range: 1500–1800 m.
Ecology: Terrestrial on humus riches slopes in broad-leaved forests.
Flowering: July–August. Fruiting: September–November.