Cymbidium
Cymbidium, 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.
Description
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 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.Taxonomy and naming
The genus Cymbidium was first formally described in 1799 by Olof Swartz who published the description in Nova acta Regiae Societatis Scientiarum Upsaliensis. The genus name Cymbidium means 'little boat-shape', referring to the labellum.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. 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.
Species
The following is a list of Cymbidium species accepted by Plants of the World Online as of April 2022 separated into subgenera:Subgenus Cymbidium
Plants in this subgenus have two pollinia, each deeply cleft with callus ridges| Section | Image | Name | Distribution | Elevation |
| Section Cymbidium | Cymbidium aloifolium 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 | ||
| Section Cymbidium | Cymbidium atropurpureum Rolfe 1903 | Thailand, Central Malaysia, Vietnam, Borneo, Sumatra and the Philippines | ||
| Section Cymbidium | Cymbidium bicolor Lindl. 1833 | Southern China, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Sulawesi, Java, Sumatra and the Philippines | ||
| Section Cymbidium | Cymbidium crassifolium Herb. 1838 | Assam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam | ||
| Section Cymbidium | Cymbidium finlaysonianum Wall. ex Lindl. 1833 | Indo-China to Malaysia and on to the Philippines | ||
| Section Cymbidium | Cymbidium puerense Z.J.Liu & S.R.Lan 2018 | China | ||
| Section Cymbidium | Cymbidium rectum Ridl. 1920 | S. Thailand, Malaysia, N. Borneo | ||
| Section Austrocymbidium Schltr. 1924 | Cymbidium canaliculatum R.Br. 1810 | N. & E. Australia | ||
| Section Austrocymbidium Schltr. 1924 | Cymbidium chloranthum Lindl. 1843 | Taiwan, Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and Java | ||
| Section Austrocymbidium Schltr. 1924 | Cymbidium madidum Lindl. 1840 | eastern Australia | ||
| Section Austrocymbidium Schltr. 1924 | Cymbidium suave R.Br. 1810 | E. Australia | ||
| Section Himantophyllum Schltr. 1924 | 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 | ||
| Section Himantophyllum Schltr. 1924 | Cymbidium lii M.Z.Huang, J.M.Yin & G.S.Yang 2017 | Hainan China | ||
| Section Himantophyllum Schltr. 1924 | Cymbidium viride Sanjeet Kumar 2020 | Assam | ||
| Section Floribundum Seth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium dianlan H.He 2019 | Yunnan | ||
| Section Floribundum Seth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium elongatum J.J. Wood, Du Puy & Shim 1988 | Borneo | ||
| Section Floribundum Seth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium floribundum Y.S. Wu & S.C. Chen 1980 | Yunnan China, Taiwan, and Vietnam | ||
| Section Floribundum Seth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium hartinahianum J.B.Comber & Nasution 1978 | N. Sumatra | ||
| Section Floribundum Seth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium suavissimum Sander ex C.H.Curtis 1928 | Myanmar, Guizhou and Yunnan China and Vietnam | ||
| Section Floribundum Seth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium viride Kumar 2018 | Assam | ||
| Section Bigibbarium Schltr. 1924 | Cymbidium devonianum Paxton 1843 | Assam and Meghalaya India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam | ||
| Section Repens | Cymbidium repens Aver. & Q.T.Phan 2016 | Hoa Binh, Vietnam |
Subgenus Cyperorchis
Plants in subgenus Cyberorchis have lips fused at the base to the base of the column.| Section | Image | Name | Distribution | Elevation |
| Section Annamaea Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium erythrostylum Rolfe 1905 | Vietnam | ||
| Section Annamaea Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium wenshanense Y.S.Wu & F.Y.Liu 1990 | Yunnan, China and northern Vietnam | ||
| Section Cyperorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium codonanthum Yuting Jiang, Liang Ma & S.Chen 2020 | Yunnan, China | ||
| Section Cyperorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium cochleare Lindl. 1858 | Taiwan; Assam, Sikkim, India; Bhutan; Myanmar | ||
| Section Cyperorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium elegans Lindl. 1828 | Yunnan, Xizang, China; Assam, India, eastern Himalayas, Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, and Myanmar. | ||
| Section Cyperorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium sigmoideum J.J.Sm. 1907 | Malaysia, Borneo, Java and Sumatra | ||
| Section Cyperorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium whiteae King & Pantl. 1898 | India | ||
| Section EburneaSeth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium banaense Gagnep. 1951 | Vietnam | ||
| Section EburneaSeth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium changningense Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen 2005 | Yunnan, China | ||
| Section EburneaSeth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium concinnum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen 2006 | Yunnan, China | ||
| Section EburneaSeth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium daweishanense G.Q.Zhang & Z.J.Liu 2018 | Yunnan, China | ||
| Section EburneaSeth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium eburneum Lindl. 1847 | Assam India, eastern Himalayas, Nepal, Myanmar, Yunnan China and Vietnam | ||
| Section EburneaSeth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium mastersii Griff. ex Lindl. 1845 | Assam India, Bhutan, Myanmar, northern Thailand and China | ||
| Section EburneaSeth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium jiangchengense Ying L.Peng, S.R.Lan & Z.J.Liu 2019 | Yunnan, China | ||
| Section EburneaSeth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium maguanense F.Y.Liu 1996 | Southeastern Yunnan, China | ||
| Section EburneaSeth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium parishii Rchb. f. 1874 | Myanmar | ||
| Section EburneaSeth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium roseum J.J.Sm. 1905 | Malayasian peninsula, Java and Sumatra | ||
| Section EburneaSeth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium wadae T.Yukawa 2002 | Thailand | ||
| Section EburneaSeth & Cribb 1984 | Cymbidium weishanense X.Yu & Z.J.Liu 2021 | China | ||
| Section Iridorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium erythraeum Lindl. 1859 | Kumaon, Sikkim, and Assam states of India; Nepal; Bhutan; Myanmar; Yunnan, Sichuan, and Xizang China; and Vietnam | ||
| Section Iridorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium gaoligongense Z.J.Liu & J.Yong Zhang 2003 | Yunnan, China | ||
| Section Iridorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium hookerianum Rchb.f. | Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim & Assam India, and Xizang China | ||
| Section Iridorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium insigne Rolfe 1904 | Thailand, Vietnam and Hainan China | ||
| Section Iridorchis Hunt 1970 | 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 | ||
| Section Iridorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium lowianum Rchb. f. 1879 | Burma, Thailand, Yunnan China and Vietnam | ||
| Section Iridorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium motuoense W.Q.Hu, Qinghai Zhang & Z.J.Liu 2021 | China | ||
| Section Iridorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium sanderae Sander ex Rolfe 1904 | Vietnam | ||
| Section Iridorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium seidenfadenii P.J.Cribb 2014 | Thailand | ||
| Section Iridorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium schroederi Rolfe 1905 | Yunnan China, Vietnam | ||
| Section Iridorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium sichuanicum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen 2006 | Sichuan, China | ||
| Section Iridorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium tracyanum Rolfe 1890 | China, Thailand and Myanmar | ||
| Section Iridorchis Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium wilsonii Rolfe 1904 | Southern Yunnan, China and Vietnam | ||
| Section Parishiella Hunt 1970 | Cymbidium tigrinum Parish ex Hook. f. 1864 | West Yunnan China, Myanmar and Assam India |
Subgenus Jensoa
Plants in this subgenus have four pollinia, in two unequal pairs; lips attached to the base of the column,| Section | Image | Name | Distribution | Elevation |
| Section Axillaria Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium cyperifolium Lindl. 1833 | Nepal, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan China | ||
| Section Axillaria Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium shidianense G.Z.Chen, G.Q.Zhang & L.J.Chen 2019 | China | ||
| Section Borneense Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium aliciae Quisumb 1940 | Sulawesi and the Philippines | ||
| Section Borneense Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium borneense J.J. Wood 1983 | Borneo | ||
| Section Geocymbidium Schltr. 1924 | Cymbidium biflorens D.Y.Zhang, S.R.Lan & Z.J.Liu 2020 | Yunnan China | ||
| Section Geocymbidium Schltr. 1924 | 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 | ||
| Section Geocymbidium Schltr. 1924 | Cymbidium recurvatum Z.J.Liu, S.C.Chen & P.J.Cribb 2009 | Yunnan China | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium acuminatum M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones 1996 | New Guinea | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium defoliatum Y.S.Wu & S.C.Chen 1991 | Fujian, Guizhou, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces of China | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium ensifolium Swartz 1799 | Japan, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Hong Kong to Sumatra and Java | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium formosanum Hayata 1911 | Taiwan | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium goeringii Rchb.f 1864 | India, Bhutan, China, Taiwan, Ryukyu Islands, Japan and Korea | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium haematodes Lindl. 1833 | Hainan and Yunnan provinces of China, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia and New Guinea | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium induratifolium Z.J.Liu & J.N.Zhang 1998 | Vietnam | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium kanran Makino 1902 | Taiwan, Guangdong, Gunagxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Hainan Island provinces of China; Honshu and the Ryukyu Islands, Japan; and South Korea | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium longipes Z.J.Liu & J.N.Zhang 1998 | Vietnam | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium micranthum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen 2004 | Yunnan, China | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium munronianum King & Pantl. 1895 | Assam India | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium omeiense Y.S.Wu & S.C.Chen 1966 | Sichuan China | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium qiubeiense K.M.Feng & H.Li 1980 | Yunnan and Guangxi provinces of China | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium sinense Willd.1805 | Guangdong, Hainan，Taiwan, Fujian, Jiangxi, Southern Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces of China and Northern Vietnam. | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium tamphianum Aver. 2018 | Lam Dong, Vietnam | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium sangii Aver. & V.C.Nguyen 2023 | Lam Dong, Vietnam | ||
| Section Jensoa Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium xichouense Xin Y.Xu, C.C.Ding & S.R.Lan | Yunnan China | ||
| Section Nanula Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium atrolabium X.Y.Liao, S.R.Lan & Z.J.Liy 2019 | Yunnan China | ||
| Section Nanula Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium brevifolium Z.Zhou, S.R.Lan & Z.J.Liu 2020 | Hubei China | ||
| Section Nanula Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium faberi Rolfe 1896 | Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang provinces of China; Taiwan; | ||
| Section Nanula Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium nanulum Y.S.Wu & S.C.Chen 2017 | Yunnan, Guizhou, Hainan provinces of China | ||
| Section Nanula Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium purpureisepalum M.J.Zhu & S.R.Lan 2022 | Yunnan China | ||
| Section Nanula Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium serratum Schltr. 1919 | Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan provinces of China; Taiwan | ||
| Section Nanula Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium ledinhhienii Aver., Vuong et V.C. Nguyen 2024 | Vietnam | ||
| Section Nanula Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium sungwookii Aver., Vuong et V.C. Nguyen 2024 | Vietnam | ||
| Section Nanula Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium teretipetiolatum Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen 2002 | Yunnan China | ||
| Section Nanula Du Puy & Cribb 1988 | Cymbidium tortisepalum Fukuy. 1934 | Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan provinces of China; Taiwan | ||
| Section Pachyrhizanthe Schltr. 1924 | Cymbidium macrorhizon Lindl. 1833 | Pakistan, the Chinese Himalayas, Assam, the eastern Himalayas, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Taiwan, the Ryukyu Islands and Korea | ||
| Section Pachyrhizanthe Schltr. 1924 | Cymbidium hengbungense A.N. Rao, K. Chowlu, H.B. Sharma, K.S. Thithila & D.S. Thokchom 2016 | India |
Natural Hybrids
- Cymbidium × ballianum Rolfe
- Cymbidium × baoshanense F.Y.Liu & Perner
- Cymbidium × dilatatiphyllum J.M.H.Shaw
- Cymbidium × florinda Rolfe
- Cymbidium × gammieanum King & Pantl.
- Cymbidium × glebelandense Rolfe
- Cymbidium × hillii F.Muell. ex Regel
- Cymbidium × monanthum J.M.H.Shaw
- Cymbidium × nishiuchianum Makino ex J.M.H.Shaw
- Cymbidium × nomachianum T.Yukawa & Nob.Tanaka
- Cymbidium × nujiangense X.P.Zhou, S.P.Lei & Z.J.Liu
- Cymbidium × oblancifolium Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen
- Cymbidium × purpuratum L.J.Chen, Li.Q.Li & Z.J.Liu
- Cymbidium × rosefieldense Rolfe
- Cymbidium × woodlandense Rolfe
Distribution
This genus is distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia and Australia. 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.Uses
Use in horticulture
Cymbidium orchids are among the oldest horticultural orchids in the world and were mentioned in a manuscript from the Jin dynasty from about 200s CE 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.Cymbidiums have few pests or diseases but can be affected by aphids, spider mites and viral diseases.