Unknown Cymbidium from China

[Psyched]

This holiday, I happened to visit Yunnan province in China. Being an orchid addict, first thing I notice is how Cymbidiums are quite common sight in there. Some were growing in huge pots and developed into a big chunks. Unfortunately, my visit is a few weeks before Cymbidium flowering season so I can only enjoy few while mostly are currently in spike.

This one caught my eyes with very wide flowers but not fully opened. It is grown in elevation about 2000 meters - 3000 meters from sea level.

Any idea what species of Cymbidium is it?

[Louis_C]

could be cymbidium tracyanum

[A G]

My first thought too, looks like a C. tracyanum.

[shadec]

Yep, i was thinking tracyanum too

[bitis78]

Most assuredly C. tracyanum. One way to be sure is to sniff it - if you're bowled over with a pungent citrus-ish scent, you know it's tracyanum...lol

[Psyched]

Thanks guys... glad to finally have my curiosity answered.

[Limbo]

Why not Cymbidium erythraeum ?

[Bolero]

Originally Posted by Limbo

Why not Cymbidium erythraeum ?

This is why:

http://www.orchidspecies.com/cymerythraeum.htm

They are sort of similar but I would go for traceyanum as well.

[Limbo]

Originally Posted by Bolero

This is why:

IOSPE PHOTOS

They are sort of similar but I would go for traceyanum as well.

I think the picture in orchidspecies shows another species, Cymbidium iridioides. We often assume pictures in orchidspecies.com as correctly named (mostly they are) but not in any cases.

C. iridioides (India) often sold as C. gigantea



same from Vietnam



also album forms



and what I think is Cymbidium erythraeum (from India sold as C. longifolioum)



of course, all of them are similar to Cymbidium tracyanum and to tell them apart, you have to look in the first description. The same is true for these small growing Cymbidium species around C. goeringii.

[bitis78]

Good point, but there are some crucial differences...

Such as:

C. erythraeum is a miniature in comparison to C. traceyanum.

The fragrance of C. traceyanum is unmistakeable - as mentioned before - if this plant has a pungent odour, reminiscent of overripe citrus, it is traceyanum.

Psyched, can you let us know if this fragrance is present? Also, maybe post a pic of of something next to the flower, so we can get an idea of the size?

Limbo thought outside the square and is absolutely right in offering C. erythraeum as an option. C. erythraeum "Paradise" looks uncannily like C. traceyanum, but is literally lucky to be half the size and lacks the same fragrance.

Let's solve the mystery!
Andrew.