| Boat orchids | |
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| Cymbidium iridioides | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Tribe: | Cymbidieae |
| Subtribe: | Cymbidiinae |
| Genus: | Cymbidium Swartz[1] |
| Type species | |
| Cymbidium aloifolium | |
| Species | |
See text. | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Cymbidium/sɪmˈbɪdiəm/,[2] commonly known asboat orchids, is agenus ofevergreenflowering plants in the orchidfamilyOrchidaceae. Orchids in this genus areepiphytic,lithophytic,terrestrial or rarely leaflesssaprophyticherbs usually withpseudobulbs. 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. Thesepals andpetals are all free from and similar to each other. Thelabellum is significantly different from the other petals and the sepals and has three lobes. There are about fifty-five species and sixteen further naturalhybrids occurring in the wild fromtropical andsubtropical Asia to Australia. Cymbidiums are well known in horticulture and manycultivars have been developed. The genome ofCymbidium mannii has been sequenced to study epiphytism andcrassulacean acid metabolism.[3]
Plants in the genusCymbidium are epiphytic, lithophytic or terrestrial plants, or rarely leafless saprophytes. All aresympodialevergreen 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 leafaxil. 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 thecolumn, 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. Afterpollination aglabrouscapsule containing many light coloured seeds is produced.[4][5][6]
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The genusCymbidium was first formally described in 1799 byOlof Swartz who published the description inNova acta Regiae Societatis Scientiarum Upsaliensis.[7][1][8] The genus nameCymbidium is means 'little boat-shape', referring to the labellum.[9]
In 1848Blume raised the genusCyperorchis inFedde'sRepertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis and moved 19 species and 26 hybrids previously included inCymbidium to the new genus.[10] In 1984Christopher Seth andPhillip Cribb divided the genus into three subgeneraCyperorchis,Jensoa, andCymbidium and each subgenus intosections. In 1988,Dupuy and Cribb modified the sections.[7] The three subgenera were confirmed by molecular phylogeny, however the sections did not show monophyly.[11][12]
The following is a list ofCymbidium species accepted byPlants of the World Online as of April 2022 separated into subgenera:[13]
Plants in this subgenus have two pollinia, each deeply cleft with callus ridges[7]
| Section | Image | Name | Distribution | Elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SectionCymbidium[7] |  | 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 | 0–1,500 metres (0–4,921 ft) |
.jpg) | Cymbidium atropurpureum(Lindl.) Rolfe 1903 | Thailand, Central Malaysia, Vietnam, Borneo, Sumatra and the Philippines | 1,630 metres (5,350 ft) | |
.jpg) | Cymbidium bicolorLindl. 1833 | Southern China, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Sulawesi, Java, Sumatra and the Philippines | 800–1,100 metres (2,600–3,600 ft) | |
| Cymbidium crassifoliumHerb. 1838 | Assam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam | 100–1,600 metres (330–5,250 ft) | ||
 | Cymbidium finlaysonianumWall. ex Lindl. 1833 | Indo-China to Malaysia (Malaya, Sumatra) and on to the Philippines | 0–1,200 metres (0–3,937 ft) | |
| Cymbidium puerenseZ.J.Liu & S.R.Lan 2018 | China (Yunnan) | 1,000–2,000 metres (3,300–6,600 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium rectumRidl. 1920 | S. Thailand, Malaysia, N. Borneo(Sabah) | 450–800 metres (1,480–2,620 ft) | ||
| SectionAustrocymbidiumSchltr. 1924[11] | .jpg) | Cymbidium canaliculatumR.Br. 1810 | N. & E. Australia | 5–900 metres (16–2,953 ft) |
_Lindl.%2c_Edwards%2527s_Bot._Reg._29(Misc.)-_68_(1843)_(35834923066).jpg) | Cymbidium chloranthumLindl. 1843 | Taiwan, Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and Java | 300–1,500 metres (980–4,920 ft) | |
 | Cymbidium madidumLindl. 1840 | eastern Australia | 0–1,300 metres (0–4,265 ft) | |
.jpg) | Cymbidium suaveR.Br. 1810 | E. Australia | 0–1,350 metres (0–4,429 ft) | |
| SectionHimantophyllumSchltr. 1924[7] |  | Cymbidium dayanumRchb.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 | 300–1,600 metres (980–5,250 ft) |
| Cymbidium liiM.Z.Huang, J.M.Yin & G.S.Yang 2017 | Hainan China | 800–1,000 metres (2,600–3,300 ft)[14] | ||
| Cymbidium viride Sanjeet Kumar 2020 | Assam (Manipur) | 616 metres (2,021 ft) | ||
| SectionFloribundumSeth & Cribb 1984[11] | Cymbidium dianlanH.He 2019 | Yunnan | 1,200–1,400 metres (3,900–4,600 ft) | |
| Cymbidium elongatumJ.J. Wood, Du Puy & Shim 1988 | Borneo(Sarawak and Sabah) | 1,200–2,300 metres (3,900–7,500 ft) | ||
 | Cymbidium floribundum(Rolfe) Y.S. Wu & S.C. Chen 1980 | Yunnan China, Taiwan, and Vietnam | 400–3,300 metres (1,300–10,800 ft) | |
_(cropped).jpg) | Cymbidium hartinahianumJ.B.Comber &Nasution 1978 | N. Sumatra | 1,700 to 2,700 metres (5,600 to 8,900 ft) | |
| Cymbidium suavissimumSander ex C.H.Curtis 1928 | Myanmar, Guizhou and Yunnan China and Vietnam | 700 to 1,100 metres (2,300 to 3,600 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium virideKumar 2018 | Assam | 616–768 metres (2,021–2,520 ft) | ||
| SectionBigibbariumSchltr. 1924 |  | Cymbidium devonianumPaxton 1843 | Assam and Meghalaya India, China(Yunnan), Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam | 1,450–2,200 metres (4,760–7,220 ft) |
| SectionRepens | Cymbidium repensAver. & Q.T.Phan 2016 | Hoa Binh, Vietnam | 400–600 metres (1,300–2,000 ft)[15] |
Plants in subgenus Cyberorchis have lips fused at the base to the base of the column.[7]
| Section | Image | Name | Distribution | Elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SectionAnnamaeaHunt 1970[12] |  | Cymbidium erythrostylumRolfe 1905 | Vietnam | 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) |
| Cymbidium wenshanenseY.S.Wu & F.Y.Liu 1990 | Yunnan, China and northern Vietnam | 1,000–1,500 metres (3,300–4,900 ft) | ||
| SectionCyperorchisHunt 1970[12] | Cymbidium codonanthumYuting Jiang, Liang Ma & S.Chen 2020 | Yunnan, China | 1,600–1,800 metres (5,200–5,900 ft) | |
| Cymbidium cochleareLindl. 1858 | Taiwan; Assam, Sikkim, India; Bhutan; Myanmar | 300–1,600 metres (980–5,250 ft) | ||
.jpg) | Cymbidium elegansLindl. 1828 | Yunnan, Xizang, China; Assam, India, eastern Himalayas, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, and Myanmar. | 1,500–2,500 metres (4,900–8,200 ft) | |
| Cymbidium sigmoideumJ.J.Sm. 1907 | Malaysia, Borneo, Java and Sumatra | 800–1,700 metres (2,600–5,600 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium whiteaeKing & Pantl. 1898 | India (Sikkim) | 1,500–2,000 metres (4,900–6,600 ft) | ||
| SectionEburnea(Bl.)Seth & Cribb 1984[12] | Cymbidium banaenseGagnep. 1951 | Vietnam | 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) | |
| Cymbidium changningenseZ.J.Liu & S.C.Chen 2005 | Yunnan, China | 1,700 metres (5,600 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium concinnumZ.J.Liu & S.C.Chen 2006[16] | Yunnan, China | 2,300 metres (7,500 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium daweishanense G.Q.Zhang & Z.J.Liu 2018 | Yunnan, China | 1,200–1,400 metres (3,900–4,600 ft) | ||
_(49750191441).jpg) | Cymbidium eburneumLindl. 1847 | Assam India, eastern Himalayas, Nepal, Myanmar, Yunnan China and Vietnam | 300–2,000 metres (980–6,560 ft) | |
| Cymbidium mastersiiGriff. ex Lindl. 1845 | Assam India, Bhutan, Myanmar, northern Thailand and China | 900–2,400 metres (3,000–7,900 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium jiangchengenseYing L.Peng, S.R.Lan & Z.J.Liu 2019 | Yunnan, China | 1,200–1,400 metres (3,900–4,600 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium maguanenseF.Y.Liu 1996 | Southeastern Yunnan, China | 1,000–1,800 metres (3,300–5,900 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium parishiiRchb. f. 1874 | Myanmar | 1,500–1,650 metres (4,920–5,410 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium roseumJ.J.Sm. 1905 | Malayasian peninsula, Java and Sumatra | 1,450–2,400 metres (4,760–7,870 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium wadaeT.Yukawa 2002 | Thailand | |||
| Cymbidium weishanense X.Yu & Z.J.Liu 2021 | China (Yunnan) | 800 metres (2,600 ft) | ||
| SectionIridorchis(Bl.)Hunt 1970[12] |  | Cymbidium erythraeumLindl. 1859 | Kumaon, Sikkim, and Assam states of India; Nepal; Bhutan; Myanmar; Yunnan, Sichuan, and Xizang China; and Vietnam | 1,000–2,800 metres (3,300–9,200 ft) |
| Cymbidium gaoligongenseZ.J.Liu & J.Yong Zhang 2003 | Yunnan, China | 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) | ||
 | Cymbidium hookerianumRchb.f. | Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim & Assam India, and Xizang China | 1,500–2,600 metres (4,900–8,500 ft) | |
 | Cymbidium insigneRolfe 1904 | Thailand, Vietnam and Hainan China | 1,000–2,600 metres (3,300–8,500 ft) | |
 | Cymbidium iridioidesD. Don 1825 | Xizang, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan provinces of China; Kumaon, Assam, Sikkim, and Meghalaya states of India; Bhutan; Nepal; Myanmar; and Vietnam | 900–2,800 metres (3,000–9,200 ft) | |
 | Cymbidium lowianum(Rchb. f.) Rchb. f. 1879 | Burma, Thailand, Yunnan China and Vietnam | 1,300–2,200 metres (4,300–7,200 ft) | |
| Cymbidium motuoenseW.Q.Hu, Qinghai Zhang & Z.J.Liu 2021 | China (SE Tibet) | 2,760 metres (9,060 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium sanderaeSander ex Rolfe 1904 | Vietnam | 1,400–1,500 metres (4,600–4,900 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium seidenfadenii(P.J.Cribb & Du Puy) P.J.Cribb 2014 | Thailand | 1,000–2,600 metres (3,300–8,500 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium schroederiRolfe 1905 | Yunnan China, Vietnam | 1,350–1,700 metres (4,430–5,580 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium sichuanicumZ.J.Liu & S.C.Chen 2006 | Sichuan, China | 1,200–1,600 metres (3,900–5,200 ft) | ||
 | Cymbidium tracyanumRolfe 1890 | China, Thailand and Myanmar | 1,200–1,900 metres (3,900–6,200 ft) | |
| Cymbidium wilsonii(Rolfe ex De Cock) Rolfe 1904 | Southern Yunnan, China and Vietnam | |||
| SectionParishiella(Bl.)Hunt 1970[7] | .jpg) | Cymbidium tigrinumParish ex Hook. f. 1864 | West Yunnan China, Myanmar and Assam India | 1,000–2,700 metres (3,300–8,900 ft) |
Plants in this subgenus have four pollinia, in two unequal pairs; lips attached to the base of the column,[7]
| Section | Image | Name | Distribution | Elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SectionAxillariaDu Puy & Cribb 1988[12] | Cymbidium cyperifoliumLindl. 1833 | Nepal, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan China | 600–1,650 metres (1,970–5,410 ft) | |
| Cymbidium shidianenseG.Z.Chen, G.Q.Zhang & L.J.Chen 2019 | China (Yunnan) | 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) | ||
| SectionBorneenseDu Puy & Cribb 1988[12] | _(30964049178).jpg) | Cymbidium aliciaeQuisumb 1940 | Sulawesi and the Philippines (Luzon, Negro Islands and Nueva Vazcaya) | 300–2,750 metres (980–9,020 ft) |
| Cymbidium borneenseJ.J. Wood 1983 | Borneo(Sarawak and Sabah) | 100–1,300 metres (330–4,270 ft) | ||
| SectionGeocymbidiumSchltr. 1924[12] | Cymbidium biflorensD.Y.Zhang, S.R.Lan & Z.J.Liu 2020 | Yunnan China | ||
_S.S.Ying%2c_Coloured_Ill._Indig._Orchids_Taiwan_1(2)_439_(1977)._(50820511723).jpg) | Cymbidium lancifoliumHook. 1823 | Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, China, Korea, Japan, Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Borneo, Java Moluccas, Sulawesi, Sumatra and New Guinea | 200–2,300 metres (660–7,550 ft) | |
| Cymbidium recurvatumZ.J.Liu, S.C.Chen & P.J.Cribb 2009 | Yunnan China | 1,700 metres (5,600 ft) | ||
| SectionJensoaDu Puy & Cribb 1988[12] | Cymbidium acuminatumM.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones 1996 | New Guinea | 450–1,300 metres (1,480–4,270 ft) | |
| Cymbidium defoliatumY.S.Wu & S.C.Chen 1991 | Fujian, Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces of China | 1,000–1,100 metres (3,300–3,600 ft) | ||
.jpg) | Cymbidium ensifolium [L]Swartz 1799 | Japan, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Hong Kong to Sumatra and Java | 0–1,500 metres (0–4,921 ft) | |
| Cymbidium formosanum Hayata 1911 | Taiwan | |||
.jpg) | Cymbidium goeringii [Rchb.f]Rchb.f 1864 | India, Bhutan, China, Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, Japan and Korea | 300–3,000 metres (980–9,840 ft) | |
_(50004675837).jpg) | Cymbidium haematodesLindl. 1833 | Hainan and Yunnan provinces of China, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia and New Guinea | 500–1,900 metres (1,600–6,200 ft) | |
| Cymbidium induratifoliumZ.J.Liu & J.N.Zhang 1998 | Vietnam | |||
.jpg) | Cymbidium kanranMakino 1902 | Taiwan, Guangdong, Gunagxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Hainan Island provinces of China; Honshu and the Ryukyu Islands, Japan; and South Korea | 400–2,500 metres (1,300–8,200 ft) | |
| Cymbidium longipesZ.J.Liu & J.N.Zhang 1998 | Vietnam | |||
| Cymbidium micranthumZ.J.Liu & S.C.Chen 2004 | Yunnan, China | 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium munronianumKing & 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 | 700–1,800 metres (2,300–5,900 ft) | ||
_Willd.-_Sp._Pl.-_ed._4-_4-_111_(1805)._20220206_222353.jpg) | Cymbidium sinense(Andrews) Willd.1805 | Guangdong, Hainan，Taiwan, Fujian, Jiangxi, Southern Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces of China and Northern Vietnam. | 0–2,000 metres (0–6,562 ft) | |
| Cymbidium tamphianumAver. 2018 | Lam Dong, Vietnam | 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium sangiiAver. & V.C.Nguyen 2023 | Lam Dong, Vietnam | 800–900 metres (2,600–3,000 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium xichouense Xin Y.Xu, C.C.Ding & S.R.Lan | Yunnan China | 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) | ||
| SectionNanulaDu Puy & Cribb 1988[12] | Cymbidium atrolabiumX.Y.Liao, S.R.Lan & Z.J.Liy 2019 | Yunnan China | 2,300 metres (7,500 ft) | |
| Cymbidium brevifoliumZ.Zhou, S.R.Lan & Z.J.Liu 2020 | Hubei China | 2,300 metres (7,500 ft) | ||
.jpg) | Cymbidium faberiRolfe 1896 | Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang provinces of China; Taiwan; | 700–3,000 metres (2,300–9,800 ft) | |
.jpg) | Cymbidium nanulumY.S.Wu & S.C.Chen 2017 | Yunnan, Guizhou, Hainan provinces of China | ||
| Cymbidium purpureisepalumM.J.Zhu & S.R.Lan 2022 | Yunnan China | 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) | ||
 | Cymbidium serratumSchltr. 1919 | Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan provinces of China; Taiwan | 1,000–3,000 metres (3,300–9,800 ft) | |
| Cymbidium ledinhhienii Aver., Vuong et V.C. Nguyen 2024 | Vietnam (Dak Lak) | 300–400 metres (980–1,310 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium sungwookii Aver., Vuong et V.C. Nguyen 2024 | Vietnam (Binh Dinh) | 500–600 metres (1,600–2,000 ft) | ||
| Cymbidium teretipetiolatumZ.J.Liu & S.C.Chen 2002 | Yunnan China | 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) | ||
.jpg) | Cymbidium tortisepalumFukuy. 1934 | Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan provinces of China; Taiwan | 800–2,500 metres (2,600–8,200 ft) | |
| SectionPachyrhizantheSchltr. 1924[12] |  | Cymbidium macrorhizonLindl. 1833 | Pakistan, the Chinese Himalayas, Assam, the eastern Himalayas, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Ryukyu Islands and Korea | 700–1,500 metres (2,300–4,900 ft) |
| Cymbidium hengbungense A.N. Rao, K. Chowlu, H.B. Sharma, K.S. Thithila & D.S. Thokchom 2016 | India (Manipur) | 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) |
This genus is distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia (such as northern India, China, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, andBorneo) and Australia.[17] 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.[7]
Cymbidium (abbreviatedCym. in the horticultural trade[18]) orchids are among the oldest horticultural orchids in the world and were mentioned in a manuscript from theJin dynasty from about 200 BCE and byConfucius. 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 0 °C (32 °F).[19][20][21]
Cymbidiums have few pests or diseases but can be affected by aphids, spider mites and viral diseases.[21]
The speciesCymbidium hookerianum is considered a delicacy in Bhutan, where it is traditionally cooked in a spicy curry or stew and called "olatshe" or "olachoto".[22]
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