Cymbidium hookerianum - Large-Flower Cymbidium

Large-Flower Cymbidium is a medium to large sized, tree-dwelling or rock-dwelling orchid with ovoid, elongate, bilaterally flattened pseudobulbs carrying linear-elliptic, pointed, leaves that are jointed 4-10 cm from the pseudobulb. The plant blooms in the late winter and early spring on a very stout, sheathed below, arching to pendant, slightly flattened, up to 75 cm long, apically racemose inflorescence with triangular floral bracts and carrying 6-15, mostly nodding, extremely fragrant, long-lasting flowers. Flowers are 11-12 cm in diameter; flower-stalk and ovary 3-5 cm; sepals and petals apple-green or yellowish green with a few deep red spots or occasionally tinged pale reddish brown at base; lip white or cream-yellow with chestnut spots and striations on lateral lobes and mid-lobe, becoming purplish red following pollination. Sepals are nearly oblong, 5.0-5.5 x 1.5-1.7 cm, tip pointed. Petals are narrowly oblong-inverted-lanceshaped, 5.0-5.5 x 1.0-1.3 cm, tip pointed. Lip is almost elliptic, 4.5-5 cm, 3-lobed; lateral lobes erect, fringed with hairs; mid-lobe recurved, margin erose and wavy. Large-Flower Cymbidium is found in E. Nepal, NE India to S. China and N. Indo-China, at altitudes of 1100-2700 m. Flowering: January-April.