A Detailed Guide to the Classification Methods and Variety Characteristics of Chinese Cymbidiums

Terrestrial Orchids Terrestrial orchids are suited to growing in the loose soil layer on the ground surface. The terrestrial orchids native to our country are also called "Chinese cymbidiums," and they have high ornamental value and economic value. This article focuses on Chinese cymbidiums. Terrestrial orchids have poor seed propagation ability, and tissue culture is difficult; there are currently no successful reports. Therefore, although there are many types of terrestrial orchids, the quantity is small and the price is high. For example: Cymbidium goeringii, Cymbidium tortisepalum var. lianpan, Cymbidium faberi, Cymbidium ensifolium, Cymbidium tortisepalum var. longibracteatum, Cymbidium kanran, Cymbidium sinense, Cymbidium ensifolium (four-season orchid), etc.

　　

Cymbidium goeringii is also known as Cao Lan and Shan Lan. Cymbidium goeringii is widely distributed and rich in resources. The plant is short, with narrow, long leaves that are slightly wider in the middle section; the leaves are 1-1.5 cm wide and 20-40 cm long, growing in clusters of 4-6, with fine teeth along the leaf margins. The pseudobulb is relatively small. The flowers are solitary, rarely 2, and the flower color is mainly yellow-green and greenish-white; the flower scape is short and upright, and the bracts are longer than the ovary. It blooms from February to March of one year, and the period can last about 1 month. The flowers have a rich, pure fragrance. Precious varieties include lotus, plum, narcissus, and butterfly petal types in various colors. In terms of petal type, the famous varieties from Jiangsu and Zhejiang are the most typical.

　　

　　

Cymbidium tortisepalum var. lianpan is extremely similar to Cymbidium goeringii and was once classified under Cymbidium goeringii, but is now an independent category. The leaves of Cymbidium tortisepalum var. lianpan are extremely narrow and long, 0.4-0.8 cm wide and 30-50 cm long, arching, with similar thickness from top to bottom, narrower and longer than those of Cymbidium goeringii, growing in clusters of 6-9. The flowering period is January to March, with multiple flowers per scape, usually 3-5. The flowers are mainly white, slightly tinged with red and yellow, with obvious veins. The flowers of Cymbidium tortisepalum var. lianpan are beautiful in color and pleasant in fragrance, with relatively great variation and many unusual flowers, and they have high economic value. For example: Diancang Mei, etc.

　　

Cymbidium faberi has roots that are thick and gradually become thinner. The leaves are narrow and strap-shaped, relatively rough and hard in texture, grayish-green, with obvious serrations along the leaf margins and prominent midribs. The leaves are about 1.0 cm wide and 25-80 cm long, growing in clusters of 5-7; the leaves are strongly upright, folded at the base, with sharp leaf teeth; the leaf sheaths spread apart after the plant matures, and there is no obvious pseudobulb. The flower scape is upright, mostly taller than the leaves, with multiple flowers per scape, usually 5-18. The petals are smaller than the sepals; the three-lobed lip is not obvious; the middle lobe has many papillate hairs, and the lip tip curls backward with short hairs along the margin. The flowers have a strong fragrance that spreads far and lasts long; the flower colors include yellow, white, green, light red, and bicolor, mostly colorful flowers, and there are also solid-color flowers and butterfly flowers. The flowering period is March to April. For example: Songchun, etc.

　　

Cymbidium tortisepalum var. longibracteatum is often called authentic Sichuan orchid. Although Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan all have famous varieties, the famous Sichuan orchid varieties are the most precious. The leaves are short and broad, sword-shaped, 1.2-1.5 cm wide and 50-70 cm long; the leaves are strongly upright, with transparent veins and folded leaf bases; the pseudobulb is obvious and round-spherical. The flower scape is upright, and the leaf sheaths still clasp together in bundles after the plant matures, not spreading apart. The flowering period is January to April, with multiple flowers per scape, 3-5, and rich flower colors, including red, yellow, white, green, purple, black, and bicolor, dazzling and brilliant, with a slender appearance, elegant charm, strong fragrance, and pure scent, often regarded by orchid growers as the first choice. For example: Tonghai Jianlan.

　　

Cymbidium ensifolium has relatively thick roots and well-developed pseudobulbs that are flat-round. The leaves are thinly leathery, yellow-green, upright and vigorous, glossy; the leaf backs are rough and lusterless, and the main veins protrude obviously. The leaves are 1.2-2.5 cm wide and 25-50 cm long, with the middle section relatively wider. The flowers are level with the leaves or higher than the leaf surface, and the flowering period is summer and autumn. The flower colors are milky white, light yellow, and yellow-green, with purple-red veins or red spots; the petals are 1/3 the length of the sepals; the lip is broad and round, with the three lobes not obvious, and the middle lobe curls backward. The base of the bracts has nectaries, and the fragrance is strong. For example: Tiegusu, Hehuasu, etc.

Four-season orchid actually refers to Cymbidium ensifolium, including summer-flowering Xia Lan, Qiu Lan, and others. Four-season orchid is robust and upright, with green leaves and abundant flowers, strong fragrance and beautiful blooms; it is not afraid of heat or cold, has strong vitality, and is easy to cultivate. Different varieties have different flowering periods, and flowers can be seen from May to December.

　　

Cymbidium kanran is distributed in Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, and the southwestern regions of Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan. Cymbidium kanran has slightly thick roots and long-oval pseudobulbs, growing in clusters. The leaves of Cymbidium kanran are more slender than those of the four-season orchid, especially narrower at the leaf base; the leaf posture is elegant and unrestrained, and it is jade-green and delicate. There are varieties with large, medium, and fine leaves and variegated edges. The leaves are 0.8-1.6 cm wide and 30-80 cm long; broad-leaf varieties have leaves 1.2-2.2 cm wide and 60-110 cm long. The leaves are thinly leathery, dark green, flat and glossy, with a narrow leaf base, drooping leaf tips, and relatively high leaf bases, growing in clusters of 3-7, with obvious grooves along the midrib and lateral veins. The middle 1/3 of new leaves is broadly white and bright, with green on both sides, and shows obvious keel-node recessive green markings. The flowers are taller than the leaves, with multiple flowers per scape, often more than ten. The sepals are long like phoenix claws and often curl backward after the flowers open, and the column is arcuate. The flower colors are rich, including yellow, green, purple-red, and deep purple, generally with variegated veins and spots, and there are also clean, flawless solid-color flowers. The sepals and petals are relatively narrow and fine, with a distinctive style, delicate and lovely, and an overpowering fragrance. The flowering period is winter. For example: Qing Hanlan, Zi Hanlan, Hong Hanlan, etc.

　　

Cymbidium sinense is also known as Baosui Lan, Baisui Lan, Fengsui Lan, etc. It is native to Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Yunnan, Taiwan, China, Hainan, and other places in our country. Orchid growers in various parts of southern China, especially Guangdong and Yunnan, most enjoy cultivating and viewing it. Cymbidium sinense has thick, long roots and well-developed oval pseudobulbs. The leaves are 2.7-5 cm wide and 45-80 cm long, growing in clusters of 3-5, sword-shaped, with tips slanting outward or arching down, leaf margins rolled backward, with fine teeth; the leaves are thinly leathery, and the leaf surface is deep green and glossy. The flower scape is thick and tall, half below the leaves and half above them. There are multiple flowers per scape, usually 7-21; the bracts are short and small, with nectaries at the base, and the floral fragrance is strong. The sepals are narrow and long, light brown, with purple veins, and the flowering period is spring and autumn. For example: Chinese Baosui Lan, Golden-edged Cymbidium sinense.

　　

Epiphytic Orchids Epiphytic orchids are suited to growing on tree trunks or rock surfaces. They are native to tropical and subtropical rainforests and have well-developed aerial roots that absorb moisture and nutrients from the air. Most epiphytic orchids have huge flowers, brilliant colors, and a bold, exuberant character, and are also called "foreign orchids." For example: the king of foreign orchids, Cattleya; the queen of foreign orchids, Phalaenopsis; and also Vanda, Dendrobium, Cymbidium hookerianum, Cymbidium wenshanense, Calanthe, etc.

　　

Semi-epiphytic Orchids Semi-epiphytic orchids can grow either on the ground or as epiphytes, or part of the plant's roots can be terrestrial and part epiphytic. For example: Cymbidium lancifolium, Paphiopedilum, Pleione, etc.

　　

Saprophytic Orchids Saprophytic orchids have only well-developed rhizomes and no green leaves; their nutrients are provided by fungi living symbiotically with them. For example: Cymbidium macrorhizon.