Cymbidium,[1] commonly known as boat orchids, is a genus of evergreen flowering plants in the orchid family Orchidaceae. Orchids in this genus are epiphytic, lithophytic, terrestrial or rarely leafless saprophytic herbs usually with pseudobulbs. There are usually between three and twelve leaves arranged in two ranks on each pseudobulb or shoot and lasting for several years. From one to a large number of flowers are arranged on an unbranched flowering stem arising from the base of the pseudobulb. The sepals and petals are all free from and similar to each other. The labellum is significantly different from the other petals and the sepals and has three lobes. There are about fifty-five species and sixteen further natural hybrids occurring in the wild from tropical and subtropical Asia to Australia. Cymbidiums are well known in horticulture and many cultivars have been developed. The genome of Cymbidium mannii has been sequenced to study epiphytism and crassulacean acid metabolism.[2]
Plants in the genus Cymbidium are epiphytic, lithophytic or terrestrial plants, or rarely leafless saprophytes. All are sympodial evergreen herbs. Some species have thin stems but in most species the stems are modified as pseudobulbs. When present, there are from three to twelve leaves arrange in two ranks and last for several years. The leaf bases remain after the leaf has withered, forming a sheath around the pseudobulb. The flowers are arranged on an unbranched flowering stem which arises from the base of the pseudobulb or rarely from a leaf axil. The sepals and petals are usually thin and fleshy, free from, and more or less similar to each other. The labellum (as in other orchids, a highly modified third petal) is significantly different from the other petals and sepals. It is sometimes hinged to the column, or otherwise fused to it. The labellum has three lobes, the side lobes erect, sometimes surrounding the column and the middle lobe often curving downwards. After pollination a glabrous capsule containing many light coloured seeds is produced.[3] [4] [5]
The genus Cymbidium was first formally described in 1799 by Olof Swartz who published the description in Nova acta Regiae Societatis Scientiarum Upsaliensis based on the description of Epidendrum aloifolium L. (Cymbidium aloifolium).[6] The genus name Cymbidium is derived from the Latin word cymba meaning "cup" "bowl" or "boat"[7] with the diminutive suffix -idium, hence "little boat", apparently in reference to the shape of the labellum in some species.
In 1848 Blume raised the genus Cyperorchis in Fedde's Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis and moved 19 species and 26 hybrids previously included in Cymbidium to the new genus.[8] In 1984 Christopher Seth and Phillip Cribb divided the genus into three subgenera Cyperorchis, Jensoa, and Cymbidium and each subgenus into sections. In 1988, Dupuy and Cribb modified the sections. The three subgenera were confirmed by molecular phylogeny, however the sections did not show monophyly.[9] [10]
The following is a list of Cymbidium species accepted by Plants of the World Online as of April 2022 separated into subgenera:[11]
Plants in this subgenus have two pollinia, each deeply cleft with callus ridges
| Section | Image | Name | Distribution | Elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section Cymbidium | Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) Sw. 1799 | Guangdong, Hong Kong, China; Bangladesh; eastern Himalayas; Assam. India and Andaman Islands; Nepal; Sri Lanka; Myanmar; Thailand; Laos; Cambodia; Vietnam; Malaysia; Java and Sumatra | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Cymbidium atropurpureum (Lindl.) Rolfe 1903 | Thailand, Central Malaysia, Vietnam, Borneo, Sumatra and the Philippines | 1630m (5,350feet) | ||
| Cymbidium bicolor Lindl. 1833 | Southern China, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Sulawesi, Java, Sumatra and the Philippines | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium finlaysonianum Wall. ex Lindl. 1833 | Indo-China to Malaysia (Malaya, Sumatra) and on to the Philippines | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium puerense Z.J.Liu & S.R.Lan 2018 | China (Yunnan) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium rectum Ridl. 1920 | S. Thailand, Malaysia, N. Borneo(Sabah) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Section Austrocymbidium | Cymbidium canaliculatum R.Br. 1810 | N. & E. Australia | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Cymbidium chloranthum Lindl. 1843 | Taiwan, Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and Java | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium madidum Lindl. 1840 | eastern Australia | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium suave R.Br. 1810 | E. Australia | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Section Himantophyllum | Cymbidium dayanum Rchb.f 1869 | Assam, India; eastern Himalayas; Sikkim; Thailand; Cambodia; Taiwan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan, China; Vietnam; Borneo; Malaysia; the Philippines; Sulawesi; Sumatra; Ryukyu Islands and Japan | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Cymbidium lii M.Z.Huang, J.M.Yin & G.S.Yang 2017 | Hainan China | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet)[12] | ||
| Section Floribundum | Cymbidium dianlan H.He 2019 | Yunnan | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Cymbidium elongatum J.J. Wood, Du Puy & Shim 1988 | Borneo(Sarawak and Sabah) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium floribundum (Rolfe) Y.S. Wu & S.C. Chen 1980 | Yunnan China, Taiwan, and Vietnam | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium hartinahianum J.B.Comber & Nasution 1978 | N. Sumatra | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium suavissimum Sander ex C.H.Curtis 1928 | Myanmar, Guizhou and Yunnan China and Vietnam | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium viride Kumar 2018 | Assam | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Section Bigibbarium | Cymbidium devonianum Paxton 1843 | Assam and Meghalaya India, China(Yunnan), Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Section Repens | Cymbidium repens Aver. & Q.T.Phan 2016 | Hoa Binh, Vietnam | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet)[13] | |
Plants in subgenus Cyberorchis have lips fused at the base to the base of the column.
| Section | Image | Name | Distribution | Elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section Annamaea | Cymbidium erythrostylum Rolfe 1905 | Vietnam | 1500m (4,900feet) | |
| Cymbidium wenshanense Y.S.Wu & F.Y.Liu 1990 | Yunnan, China and northern Vietnam | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Section Cyperorchis | Cymbidium codonanthum Yuting Jiang, Liang Ma & S.Chen 2020 | Yunnan, China | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Cymbidium cochleare Lindl. 1858 | Taiwan; Assam, Sikkim, India; Bhutan; Myanmar | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium elegans Lindl. 1828 | Yunnan, Xizang, China; Assam, India, eastern Himalayas, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, and Myanmar. | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium sigmoideum J.J.Sm. 1907 | Malaysia, Borneo, Java and Sumatra | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium whiteae King & Pantl. 1898 | India (Sikkim) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Section Eburnea | Cymbidium banaense Gagnep. 1951 | Vietnam | 1400m (4,600feet) | |
| Cymbidium changningense Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen 2005 | Yunnan, China | 1700m (5,600feet) | ||
| Cymbidium concinnum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen 2006[14] | Yunnan, China | 2300m (7,500feet) | ||
| Cymbidium daweishanense G.Q.Zhang & Z.J.Liu 2018 | Yunnan, China | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium eburneum Lindl. 1847 | Assam India, eastern Himalayas, Nepal, Myanmar, Yunnan China and Vietnam | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium mastersii Griff. ex Lindl. 1845 | Assam India, Bhutan, Myanmar, northern Thailand and China | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium jiangchengense Ying L.Peng, S.R.Lan & Z.J.Liu 2019 | Yunnan, China | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium maguanense F.Y.Liu 1996 | Southeastern Yunnan, China | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium parishii Rchb. f. 1874 | Myanmar | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium roseum J.J.Sm. 1905 | Malayasian peninsula, Java and Sumatra | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium wadae T.Yukawa 2002 | Thailand | |||
| Section Iridorchis | Cymbidium erythraeum Lindl. 1859 | Kumaon, Sikkim, and Assam states of India; Nepal; Bhutan; Myanmar; Yunnan, Sichuan, and Xizang China; and Vietnam | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Cymbidium gaoligongense Z.J.Liu & J.Yong Zhang 2003 | Yunnan, China | 1500m (4,900feet) | ||
| Cymbidium hookerianum Rchb.f. | Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim & Assam India, and Xizang China | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium insigne Rolfe 1904 | Thailand, Vietnam and Hainan China | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium iridioides D. Don 1825 | Xizang, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces of China; Kumaon, Assam, Sikkim, and Meghalaya states of India; Bhutan; Nepal; Myanmar; and Vietnam | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium lowianum (Rchb. f.) Rchb. f. 1879 | Burma, Thailand, Yunnan China and Vietnam | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium sanderae Sander ex Rolfe 1904 | Vietnam | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium seidenfadenii (P.J.Cribb & Du Puy) P.J.Cribb 2014 | Thailand | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium schroederi Rolfe 1905 | Yunnan China, Vietnam | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium sichuanicum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen 2006 | Sichuan, China | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium tracyanum Rolfe 1890 | China, Thailand and Myanmar | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium wilsonii (Rolfe ex De Cock) Rolfe 1904 | Southern Yunnan, China and Vietnam | |||
| Section Parishiella | Cymbidium tigrinum Parish ex Hook. f. 1864 | West Yunnan China, Myanmar and Assam India | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
Plants in this subgenus have four pollinia, in two unequal pairs; lips attached to the base of the column,
| Section | Image | Name | Distribution | Elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section Axillaria | Cymbidium cyperifolium Lindl. 1833 | Nepal, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan China | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Cymbidium shidianense G.Z.Chen, G.Q.Zhang & L.J.Chen 2019 | China (Yunnan) | 1200m (3,900feet) | ||
| Section Borneense | Cymbidium aliciae Quisumb 1940 | Sulawesi and the Philippines (Luzon, Negro Islands and Nueva Vazcaya) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Cymbidium borneense J.J. Wood 1983 | Borneo(Sarawak and Sabah) | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Section Geocymbidium | Cymbidium biflorens D.Y.Zhang, S.R.Lan & Z.J.Liu 2020 | Yunnan China | ||
| Cymbidium lancifolium Hook. 1823 | Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, China, Korea, Japan, Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Borneo, Java Moluccas, Sulawesi, Sumatra and New Guinea | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium recurvatum Z.J.Liu, S.C.Chen & P.J.Cribb 2009 | Yunnan China | 1700m (5,600feet) | ||
| Section Jensoa | Cymbidium acuminatum M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones 1996 | New Guinea | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
| Cymbidium defoliatum Y.S.Wu & S.C.Chen 1991 | Fujian, Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces of China | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium ensifolium [L]Swartz 1799 | Japan, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Hong Kong to Sumatra and Java | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium goeringii [Rchb.f]Rchb.f 1864 | India, Bhutan, China, Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, Japan and Korea | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium haematodes Lindl. 1833 | Hainan and Yunnan provinces of China, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia and New Guinea | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium induratifolium Z.J.Liu & J.N.Zhang 1998 | Vietnam | |||
| Cymbidium kanran Makino 1902 | Taiwan, Guangdong, Gunagxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Hainan Island provinces of China; Honshu and the Ryuku Islands, Japan; and South Korea | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium longipes Z.J.Liu & J.N.Zhang 1998 | Vietnam | |||
| Cymbidium micranthum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen 2004 | Yunnan, China | 1500m (4,900feet) | ||
| Cymbidium munronianum King & Pantl. 1895 | Assam India | |||
| Cymbidium omeiense Y.S.Wu & S.C.Chen 1966 | Sichuan China | |||
| Cymbidium qiubeiense K.M.Feng & H.Li 1980 | Yunnan and Guangxi provinces of China | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium sinense (Andrews) Willd.1805 | Guangdong, Hainan，Taiwan, Fujian, Jiangxi, Southern Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces of China and Northern Vietnam. | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium tamphianum Aver. 2018 | Lam Dong, Vietnam | 1600m (5,200feet) | ||
| Section Nanula | Cymbidium atrolabium X.Y.Liao, S.R.Lan & Z.J.Liy 2019 | Yunnan China | 2300m (7,500feet) | |
| Cymbidium faberi Rolfe 1896 | Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang provinces of China; Taiwan; | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium nanulum Y.S.Wu & S.C.Chen 2017 | Yunnan, Guizhou, Hainan provinces of China | |||
| Cymbidium purpureisepalum M.J.Zhu & S.R.Lan 2022 | Yunnan China | 1200m (3,900feet) | ||
| Cymbidium serratum Schltr. 1919 | Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan provinces of China; Taiwan | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Cymbidium teretipetiolatum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen 2002 | Yunnan China | 1000m (3,000feet) | ||
| Cymbidium tortisepalum Fukuy. 1934 | Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan provinces of China; Taiwan | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | ||
| Section Pachyrhizanthe | Cymbidium macrorhizon Lindl. 1833 | Pakistan, the Chinese Himalayas, Assam, the eastern Himalayas, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Ryukyu Islands and Korea | NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) | |
This genus is distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia (such as northern India, China, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Borneo) and Australia.[15] The large flowering species from which the large flowering hybrids are derived usually grow at low altitudes, while short leaved species, from which compact hybrids with small to medium size flowers are derived, are high altitudes lithophytes and epiphytes.[16]
Cymbidium (abbreviated Cym. in the horticultural trade[17]) orchids are among the oldest horticultural orchids in the world and were mentioned in a manuscript from the Jin dynasty from about 200 BCE and by Confucius. Today they are among the most popular orchid genera in cultivation. They have decorative flowers spikes and are one of the least demanding indoor orchids. To flower well they need a distinct difference between day and night temperatures in late summer. Plants need to remain outside in autumn until night temperatures drop to near .[18] [19] [20]
Cymbidiums have few pests or diseases but can be affected by aphids, spider mites and viral diseases.
The species Cymbidium hookerianum is considered a delicacy in Bhutan, where it is traditionally cooked in a spicy curry or stew and called "olatshe" or "olachoto".[21]