Cymbidium suave, commonly known as the snake orchid[1] or grassy boat-lip orchid,[2] is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an epiphytic orchid that forms long-lasting clumps of grass-like leaves. Up to fifty crowded olive green to dark or brownish green flowers are borne on an arching flowering stem. Of the three Australian species of Cymbidium, this is the only one that does not have prominent pseudobulbs. It is found in eastern Australia, usually growing in the hollows of old or fallen, decaying trees.
Cymbidium suave is an epiphytic herb that forms clumps of grass-like leaves but lacks prominent pseudobulbs. It has stems NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide covered with overlapping leaf bases. There are between four and eight strap-shaped leaves NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide on each stem. Between five and fifty strongly scented, olive green to dark or brownish green flowers NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide are borne on an often arching flowering stem NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long. The sepals are NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide and the petals are NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide. The labellum is NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide and faintly divided into three lobes. Flowering occurs between August and January.[3]
Cymbidium suave was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown who published the description in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.[4] [5] The specific epithet (suave) is a Latin word meaning "sweet".[6]
The snake orchid grows in woodland and forest in the hollows of old trees or in fallen, decaying trees. It occurs between Cooktown in Queensland and Bega in New South Wales and as far inland as Tamworth.