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Cymbidium (boat, from the Greek, referring to the shape of the lip). Orchidaceae. Handsome epiphytal, rarely terrestrial orchids, requiring warmhouse conditions.
Stems pseudobulbous or not so: lvs. coriaceous, long, rarely short, persistent: sepals and petals sub-equal, labellum usually tri-lobed, adnate to the base of the column; column erect; pollinia 2.—Species 30 and more, tropical or subtropical, found on mountains at high elevations in Asia, and a few species in Afr. and Austral.
These are among the most decorative of orchids when in bloom, and are attractive all the time owing to the graceful foliage seen on well-grown specimens. There are now many handsome species and varieties and these in their turn have produced, at the hands of the hybridizer, many fine decorative plants, so that a house of cymbidiums produces flowers most of the time, and these last many weeks in full beauty. There are few orchids whose flowers last so long, and the spikes of bloom, often 2 to 3 feet in length, are useful for decorative purposes of all kinds, either on the plants or cut. The recent species, C. insigne, is the most beautiful of all and has already lent itself to hybridization, so that to the very many known hybrids C. insigne will soon add its influence and coloring.—Cultivated cymbidiums are terrestrial, with thick fleshy roots best contained in pots. A portion of tough fibrous loam should be added to the osmundine, about half of each with plenty of broken charcoal to keep the whole porous. The plants will do well for years without disturbance at the roots, but when this is necessary, great care must be taken not to injure them. Division is, in fact, very difficult to accomplish when the pots are full of roots, and it is best practice to pot the plant in a larger receptacle if the roots are healthy, washing out loose earth and removing dead portions of roots first. Cymbidiums may be grown in a temperature of 50° as a minimum in winter, must not be subjected to strong sunlight after March, and never allowed to become dry at the roots, as these are more or less active, even in winter. Being terrestrial, weak manure-water may be applied during active growth. Many species thrive well when planted out in large palm and fern houses among rocks arranged in a natural manner, and when the plants are placed so that the flower-spikes are on a level with the vision, they have a charming effect for many weeks when in bloom, and the environment suite them well. Of the few well-marked species, there are many forms that have been collected and when flowered in cultivation, proved distinct. These in some cases have been called new species, but are now being better understood; some prove to be natural hybrids, others are varieties. (E. O. Orpet.)
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