Cymbidium

Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Divisio: Magnoliophyta
Classis: Liliopsida
Subclassis: Liliidae
Ordo: Asparagales
Familia: Orchidaceae
Subfamilia: Higher Epidendroideae
Tribus: Cymbidieae
Subtribus: Cyrtopodiinae
Alliance: Cymbidium
Genera: Cymbidium
Species: ... C. erythraeum - C. hookerianum ...

Name

Cymbidium Swartz, 1799

Vernacular names
Русский: Цимбидиум
中文: 蕙蘭屬

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Cymbidium (pronounced /sɪmˈbɪdiəm/),[1] or boat orchids, is a genus of 52 evergreen species in the orchid family Orchidaceae. It was first described by Olof Swartz in 1799. The name is derived from the Greek word kumbos, meaning 'hole, cavity'. It refers to the form of the base of the lip. The genus is abbreviated Cym in horticultural trade.

Distribution

This genus is distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia (such as northern India, China, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Borneo) and northern Australia. The larger flowered species from which the large flowered hybrids are derived grow at high altitudes [2].

Culinary Usage

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". [3][4][5]. It is sometimes confused with Cyclanthera pedata, another local delicacy (the nomenclature has not been clearly established; there are indications that "olatshe" usually refers to Cymb. and "olachoto" to Cycl., although not consistently).

Growth

Cymbidium plants are sympodial and grow to a height of 60 cm and the racemes as high as 90 cm. The raceme grows from the base of the most recent pseudobulb. Each flower can have a diameter of 5 to 10 cm, according to the species. They bloom during the winter, and each plant can have up to fifteen or more flowers. The fantastic range of colors for this genus include white, green, yellowish-green, cream, yellow, brown, pink, and red [and orange] (and there may be markings of other color shades at the same time), but not blue and black. The flowers last about ten weeks. They have a waxy texture. The rounded sepals and petals have about the same dimensions. They show very diverse color patterns, different for every species. [6]

Cymbidiums tend to grow more leaves than most orchids. Roughly eight long, green, narrow leaves originate from the sheath of each pseudobulb.

It is one of the most popular and desirable orchids in the world because of the beautiful flowers. These plants make great houseplants, and are also popular in floral arrangements and corsages. They have been cultivated for thousands of years, especially in China. Cymbidiums became popular in Europe during the Victorian era. One feature that makes the plant so popular is the fact that it can survive during cold temperatures (as low as 7˚ C or 45˚ F) [Actually they will survive at temperatures below 32˚F for short periods and even as low as 28˚F]. Orchid hobbyists in temperate climates appreciate the fact that they can bloom in winter, when few other orchids are blooming.

Only a few Cymbidium species are commonly grown in nurseries, due to the popularity of hybrids. Most are to be found in botanical gardens or in their ever shrinking natural habitat.

Species

* Cymbidium aestivum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen (Chinese: 夏鳳蘭) (Yunnan, China South-Central)
* Cymbidium aliciae (Philippines)
* Cymbidium aloifolium: Aloe-Leafed Cymbidium (Chinese: 紋瓣蘭) (Himalaya to W. Malaysia)
* Cymbidium atropurpureum (Chinese: 紫中華寒蘭) (S. Thailand, W. & C. Malaysia)
* Cymbidium bicolor: Two-Colored Cymbidium (Chinese: 硬葉蘭) (S. China to Trop. Asia)
o Cymbidium bicolor subsp. bicolor (S. India, Sri Lanka) Pseudobulb epiphyte
o Cymbidium bicolor subsp. obtusum (Himalaya to S. China and Indo-China). Pseudobulb epiphyte
o Cymbidium bicolor subsp. pubescens (W. & C. Malaysia)
* Cymbidium borneense (N. & NW. Borneo)
* Cymbidium canaliculatum: Banana Orchid, Queensland Black Orchid, Small Groove-leaf Cymbidium (Chinese: 溝唇蘭) (N. & E. Australia)
* Cymbidium chawalongense (Chinese: 察瓦龍綠蘭) (newly discovered in Tibet)
* Cymbidium chloranthum: Green-flowered Cymbidium (W. Malaysia)
* Cymbidium cochleare (Chinese: 垂花蘭) (E. Himalaya to Taiwan)
* Cymbidium concinnum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen (Chinese: 麗花蘭) (Yunnan, SW China)
* Cymbidium cyperifolium (Chinese: 莎葉蘭) (Himalaya to S. China and Philippines)
o Cymbidium cyperifolium subsp. cyperifolium (Himalaya to S. China).. Pseudobulb epiphyte
o Cymbidium cyperifolium subsp. indochinense (Indo-China, Philippines). Pseudobulb epiphyte
* Cymbidium dayanum: Phoenix Orchid, Tree Orchid, Day's Cymbidium (Chinese: 冬鳳蘭) (Himalaya to S. Japan and Malaysia)
* Cymbidium defoliatum (Chinese: 落葉蘭) (China)
* Cymbidium devonianum: Devon's Cymbidium (Chinese: 地旺蘭) (Nepal to N. Thailand)
* Cymbidium eburneum: Ivory-colored Cymbidium (Chinese: 獨佔春) (Himalaya to Hainan)
* Cymbidium elongatum (NW. Borneo)
* Cymbidium elegans (Chinese: 莎草蘭) (SW China)
* Cymbidium ensifolium: Four Season Orchid, Golden-thread Orchid, Spring Orchid, Burned Apex Orchid, Rock Orchid (Chinese: 建蘭, 四季蘭) (Trop. & Temp. E. Asia)
o Cymbidium ensifolium subsp. ensifolium: Mt. Tu-Wu Fall Orchid (Indo-China to Temp. E. Asia). Pseudobulb, epiphyte
o Cymbidium ensifolium subsp. haematodes (S. India to New Guinea). Pseudobulb epiphyte
* Cymbidium erythraeum: Indian Cymbidium (Chinese: 長葉蘭) (Himalaya to SC. China)
* Cymbidium erythrostylum: Red Column Cymbidium (Chinese: 紅柱蘭) (Vietnam)
* Cymbidium faberi: Multi-flower Orchid, Miscanthus Orchid (Chinese: 蕙蘭, 九華蘭) (Uttaranchal to Taiwan)
o Cymbidium faberi var. faberi (C. & S. China, Taiwan). Pseudobulb epiphyte
o Cymbidium faberi var. szechuanicum (Chinese: 送春) (Uttaranchal to SC. China). Pseudobulb epiphyte
* Cymbidium finlaysonianum: Finlayson's Cymbidium (Indo-China to Malaysia)
* Cymbidium flavum (China)
* Cymbidium floribundum: Golden Leaf-edge Orchid, Golden-edged Orchid, Yellow Margin Orchid (Chinese: 金棱邊, 多花蘭) (S. China, Taiwan).
* Cymbidium goeringii: Spring Orchid (Chinese: 春蘭) (Himalaya to Temp. E. Asia).
o Cymbidium goeringii subsp. goeringii : Goering's Cymbidium (Himalaya to Temp. E. Asia). Pseudobulb epiphyte
+ Cymbidium goeringii subsp. goeringii var. goeringii: Chinese Spring Orchid, Japanese Spring Orchid, Korean Spring Orchid (Chinese: 江浙春蘭, 日本春蘭, 韓國春蘭) (Temp. E. Asia) Pseudobulb epiphyte
+ Cymbidium goeringii subsp. goeringii var. formosanum: Taiwanese Spring Orchid (Chinese: 台灣春蘭) (Taiwan) Pseudobulb epiphyte
+ Cymbidium goeringii subsp. goeringii var. forrestii: Yunnanese Spring Orchid (Chinese: 雲南春蘭, 朵朵香) (SW. China) Pseudobulb epiphyte
o Cymbidium goeringii subsp. gracillimum : Leek Orchid, Chive Orchid (Chinese: 豆瓣綠, 豆瓣蘭, 綫葉春蘭) (Japan to S. China). Pseudobulb epiphyte
o Cymbidium goeringii subsp. longibracteatum (SC. China). Pseudobulb epiphyte
+ Cymbidium goeringii subsp. longibracteatum var. longibracteatum Sword-leaf Spring Orchid (Chinese: 春劍) (SC. China). Pseudobulb epiphyte
+ Cymbidium goeringii subsp. longibracteatum var. tsukengensis Mt. Tsukerg Orchid, Snow Orchid (Chinese: 雪蘭) (SC. China). Pseudobulb epiphyte
o Cymbidium goeringii subsp. tortisepalum : Broad-leaf Spring Orchid (Chinese: 菅草蘭) (SC. China to Taiwan) Pseudobulb epiphyte
+ Cymbidium goeringii subsp. tortisepalum var. tortisepalum (Chinese: 埤亞蘭) (Taiwan). Pseudobulb epiphyte
+ Cymbidium goeringii subsp. tortisepalum var. lianpan Miscanthus Orchid (Chinese: 蓮瓣蘭) (SC. China). Pseudobulb epiphyte
* Cymbidium gongshanense (Chinese: 貢山鳳蘭) (S. China)
* Cymbidium hartinahianum J.B.Comber & Nasution 1977 (N. Sumatra)
* Cymbidium hookerianum (Chinese: 虎頭蘭, 青蟬蘭) (E. Nepal to S. China).
* Cymbidium insigne: Splendid Cymbidium (Chinese: 美花蘭) (N. Thailand to Hainan)
* Cymbidium iridioides: Iris-like Cymbidium (Chinese: 黃蟬蘭) (Himalaya to SC. China)
* Cymbidium kanran: Cold-growing Cymbidium (Chinese: 寒蘭) (S. China to S. Japan)
* Cymbidium lancifolium: Green-flowered Peacock Orchid, Lance-leafed Cymbidium (Chinese: 兔耳蘭) (Trop. & Subtrop. Asia)
o Cymbidium lancifolium var. lancifolium : Green Bamboo-leaf Orchid, Cut-grass Orchid (Trop. & Subtrop. Asia) Pseudobulb epiphyte
o Cymbidium lancifolium var. papuanum (New Guinea). Pseudobulb epiphyte
* Cymbidium longifolium (Himalaya to SC. China)
* Cymbidium lowianum: Low's Cymbidium (Chinese: 碧玉蘭) (China to N. Indo-China)
o Cymbidium lowianum var. kalawense (Myanmar). Pseudobulb epiphyte
o Cymbidium lowianum var. lowianum (China to N. Indo-China). Pseudobulb epiphyte
* Cymbidium macrorhizon (Chinese: 大根蘭) (N. Pakistan to Temp. E. Asia).
* Cymbidium madidum: Buttercup Orchid, Northern Cymbidium, Moist Forest Cymbidium (Chinese: 濕地蘭) (Queensland to N. New South Wales)
* Cymbidium maguanense F.Y. Liu: Ivory-colored Cymbidium (Chinese: 象牙白) (Yunnan, SW China)
* Cymbidium mastersii: Master's Cymbidium (Chinese: 大雪蘭) (E. Himalaya to China)
* Cymbidium micranthum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen (2004) (Chinese: 細花蘭) (Yunnan, China South-Central,temperate Asia)
* Cymbidium multiradicatum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen (Chinese: 多根蘭) (Yunnan, SW China)
* Cymbidium munronianum (E. Himalaya to Assam)
* Cymbidium nanulum (Chinese: 珍珠矮) (China (SW. Yunnan, SW. Guizhou), Hainan)
* Cymbidium omeiense Y.S.Wu & S.C.Chen (Chinese: 峨眉春蕙) (China, Xichuan)
* Cymbidium parishii (S. Myanmar)
* Cymbidium qiubeiense (Chinese: 邱北冬蕙蘭) (China)
* Cymbidium rectum (Malaysia, N. Borneo)
* Cymbidium roseum (W. Malaysia)
* Cymbidium sanderae: Sander's Cymbidium (Vietnam)
* Cymbidium schroederi (C. Vietnam)
* Cymbidium sigmoideum (W. Malaysia)
* Cymbidium sinense: Chinese Cymbidium (Chinese: 墨蘭) (Assam to Nansei-shoto)
* Cymbidium suave: Snake Orchid (Chinese: 蛇蘭) (E. Australia)
* Cymbidium suavissimum (Chinese: 果香蘭) (N. Myanmar)
* Cymbidium teretipetiolatum (China)
* Cymbidium tigrinum: Tiger-striped Cymbidium (Chinese: 斑舌蘭) (Assam to China).
* Cymbidium tracyanum: Tracy's Cymbidium (Chinese: 西藏虎頭蘭) (SE. Tibet to China and Indo-China)
* Cymbidium wenshanense (Chinese: 文山紅柱蘭) (China to Vietnam)
* Cymbidium whiteae (Sikkim)
* Cymbidium wilsonii (Chinese: 滇南虎頭蘭) (China)

Natural Hybrids

* Cymbidium × ballianum (Chinese: 巴氏雪蘭) (= C. eburneum × C. mastersii) (Myanmar)
* Cymbidium × baoshanense (Chinese: 保山蘭) (= C. lowianum × C. tigrinum) (SC. Yunnan)
* Cymbidium × chiu-lih(?) (Chinese: 秋麗蘭) (= C. lancifolium × C. ensifolium) (China)
* Cymbidium × nishiuchianum (Chinese: 春寒蘭) (= C. goeringii × C. kanran) (Taiwan)
* Cymbidium × nishiuchianum (Chinese: 春暉) (= C. goeringii subsp. goeringii var. formosanum × C. kanran) (Taiwan)
* Cymbidium × florinda (= C. erythrostylum × C. iridioides. Cyperorchis × florinda) (Vietnam)
* Cymbidium × gammieanum (= C. elegans × C. erythraeum. Cyperorchis × gammieana) (Nepal to Sikkim)
* Cymbidium × glebelandensis (= C. insigne × C. schroederi) (Vietnam)
* Cymbidium × jy-shiang(?) (Chinese: 芝香蘭) (= C. lancifolium × C. sinense) (China)
* Cymbidium × rosefieldense (= C. hookerianum × C. tracyanum. Cyperorchis × rosefieldensis) (Vietnam)
* Cymbidium × woodlandense (= C. mastersii × C. tracyanum. Cyperorchis × woodlandensis) (Myanmar)

Asian Cymbidium

Asian Cymbidiums or Chinese Cymbidiums refer to mainly five species of cymbidiums orchids that are found throughout East Asia in areas of China, Korea, Japan, India, and in parts of Thailand and Vietnam. These species are usually grown for their variegated leaves. But plants are also grown for their fragrant flowers and peloric flower structure. Plants are usually grown in long and thin vase like pots. The five species are:

* Cymbidium sinense 墨蘭
* Cymbidium ensifolium 建蘭
* Cymbidium kanran 寒蘭
* Cymbidium goeringii 春蘭 (all the varieties like v. longibracteatum 春劍, v. lianpan 蓮瓣蘭, subsp. gracillimum 豆瓣蘭 are treated as different groups in the culture traditionally) Image
* Cymbidium faberi 蕙蘭

Diseases

Cymbidiums are susceptible to the Tobacco mosaic virus and Cymbidium mosaic potexvirus.

Notes

1. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
2. ^ Cribb, P and du Puy, D The Genus Cymbidium Kew Publishing ISBN978-1-84246-147-1, 2007.
3. ^ [1]
4. ^ [2]
5. ^ [3]
6. ^ "Cymbidium Care". http://www.plantdex.com/index.php/species-growing-guides/flowers/orchids/cymbidium-orchid. Retrieved 2011-01-28.