Cymbidium lancifolium Hook., Exot. Bot. 1 (1823) t. 51
Type: Shepherd cult. (Wallich) s.n. (Nepal) (holo K)
Epiphytic, small for the genus, 10-15 cm high; roots flexuose, glabrous; rhizome stem-like; stem erect, cylindrical, at first covered with sheaths, 1-2-leaved at the apex, 3-5 cm long, 0.25-0.35 cm diameter; leaves erect-patent, lanceolate-ligulate, acute or acuminate, towards the base gradually narrowed into the petiole, 6-9 cm long including the petiole, blade in the middle 1.3-1.8 cm wide; Inflorescence erect, lateral, laxly 2-3-flowered, about as long as the leaves, covered with acuminate peduncle-scales; bracts elliptic, acuminate, as long as or somewhat shorter than the ovary. Flowers erect or suberect, glabrous. Sepals narrowly oblong-ligulate, acute, 1.7 cm long. Lateral sepals oblique. Petals obliquely ligulate-oblong, narrowly obtuse, somewhat shorter and wider than the sepals. Lip at the base elliptic, lanceolate-elongated, subacute, as long as the petals, below the middle 0.8 cm wide, with two obtuse, glabrous, subparallel keels extending from the base up to the middle. Column semiterete, glabrous, somewhat shorter then the lip. Anther reniform-cucullate, papillose. Ovary cylindrical, glabrous, 1.8 cm long. (After Schlechter, 1911-1914, as Cymbidium papuanum Schltr.)
Colours: Flower light yellow, petals and lip with red spots and dots.
Habitat: Terrestrial in lower montane forest. Altitude 1070-1600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: March, April, May, June, July.
Distribution: Malesia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, Moluccas, New Guinea), Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Nepal, Bhutan, India, Burma, China, Taiwan, Japan.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 196-150M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing terrestrial, keep in shade.