Included in the subgenus Jensoa
with Cym. sinense, Cym. faberi, Cym.
goeringii and other similar oriental
cymbidiums, Cym. ensifolium is one of the
most widespread and variable of the genus. Cymbidium
ensifolium is found throughout Indochina,
China, Japan, Borneo, New Guinea and the
Philippines at elevations ranging from 985 to
5,905 feet, although it is probably not native to
Japan, having been originally introduced through
cultivation. This widespread and broadly defined
species has many distinct recognized subtypes
that are probably the result of long-term
cultivation and selection. While some experts
believe that Cym. ensifolium comprises
several closely related species, most now agree
that it is a single valid species throughout its
range. Growers have long been attracted to the
many distinct foliar types as well as the range
of flower colors and shapes, resulting in part
from the wide-ranging nature of the species. We
can also credit the tolerance of the plants for a
variety of conditions to its wide habitat range.
This is not a cymbidium that requires traditional
cymbidium culture (though it will do tolerably
well side other traditional cymbidiums), but will
flourish just about wherever other high-light
orchids are grown. It is not a windowsill orchid
nor will it do particularly well under lights.
However, it, and in many cases its hybrids, will
do well out of doors in tropical areas, or on the
bench in a typical intermediate greenhouse. It is
when growers must commit limited greenhouse space
that its dominance for compact stature is most
appreciated, since a mature plant does quite well
in a 6-inch pot.
A Look at the
Species
Several attributes of this
species have made it popular for centuries. First
and foremost in the eyes of its first growers, of
course, is the fine and elegant foliage. A
well-grown Cym. ensifolium in
proportionately sized container is handsome in or
out of bloom. The balance between foliage and pot
is all-important and highly prized in the Orient.
Occidental growers though, seem to need flowers
and here Cym. ensifolium also pleases.
Flowers range from 2 to 3 inches, and are borne
well-spaced on an upright spike of three to eight
or more. Flower life is, unfortunately, somewhat
shorter than the better-known cymbidiums, but can
still be two to three weeks. Color is most often
a mix of reddish brown over a green background,
though extremes of nearly red and fully albino
green are not uncommon. While the flowers are not
truly showy, their exquisite perfume and
serene posture more than compensate. Cymbidium
ensifolium tends to flower in the late summer
into early autumn, as do many of its hybrids. The
species is dominant for the fragrance, the spike
habit and flower count, as well as the compact
growth habit. Unfortunately, it also tends to
impart its short flower life and poor keeping
quality as a cut flower to offspring. Cymbidium
ensifolium's long-term contribution to the
cymbidium breeding pool is still being made. As a
parent for very early compact pot plants, it
remains an important primary parent, with such
direct progeny as Cymbidium Super Baby (x
Babylon), Cymbidium Chocolate Soldier (x
Volcano) and Cymbidium Tender Love (x parishii)
in circulation. Not only do these hybrids
flower extra early, often beginning in September,
but they have a degree of heat tolerance that
makes them good candidates for warmer climates. Cymbidium
ensifolium's major contribution will come,
though, probably through only a few of its
progeny, and this story is still being written. Cymbidium
Golden Elf (x Enid Haupt) 'Sundust', HCC/AOS,
and its tetraploid (4n) variant are beginning to
make an impact on breeding. Cymbidium Golden
Elf is deservedly popular in and of itself for
its ease of culture coupled with its brilliant
concolor yellow blooms and their lilting perfume.
Be on the lookout for Cym. Golden Elf,
which is fairly widely available, as well as its
progeny, which should soon begin to appear as
tissue-cultured varieties. Cymbidium Korintji
(x Rangoon) has also made somewhat of an impact
on breeding, though a lesser extent as it gives
mainly green which are not too popular at the
moment. One particularly fine Cym. Korintji
hybrid is Cymbidium Giselle (x
madidum), with the clone 'Ballerina' recently
receiving an HCC/AOS. Interestingly, the Cym.
ensifolium influence was strong enough, even
at one generation removed, to overcome the
pendent spike habit of Cym. madidum, and
instead give upright spikes.
You might think that the next
parent's influence would have been slowed by this
same fault: The bulk of its early progeny,
especially, were green. However, breeders
persevered with Cymbidium Peter Pan (x
Miretta) 'Greensleeves' 4n. Andy Easton has
called it potentially the Cymbidium Alexanderi
'Westonbirt' of miniatures. Since its conversion
to tetra-ploid form by Donald Wimber, PhD, and
the subsequent discovery of its great fertility
as a result of this conversion, Cym. Peter
Pan (4n) has been crossed with just about every
worthwhile -- and not a few worthless --
cymbidium parent. Many of these parents,
especially at first, were also green, naturally
giving more green progeny. As breeders branched
out, it was found that while Cym. Peter
Pan did tend to give a good share of greens, it
would also, if judiciously used, give the full
range of colors desired in cymbidiums. Unlike
many other miniature and semi-miniature parents,
many second-genera-tion Cym. Peter Pan
hybrids have proven to be fertile. A few of the
more important Cym. Peter Pan hybrids that
are now, in some cases, going on to sire their
own lines of breeding are Cymbidium Peter
Pilot (x Fred Stewart), Cymbidium Rolling
Stone (x Doris Aurea) and Cymbidium Prettipink
(x Alison Shaw), especially unusual in that it is
bred for a supposedly "unbreedable"
parent. From these, and other Cym. Peter
Pan progeny, is coming a new race of compact and
floriferous cymbidiums for potted plants that
will bloom in many areas heretofore
"forbidden ground" for cymbidium
production.
Cymbidium ensifolium and
its progeny certainly address some of the most
common criticisms about old-fashioned cymbidiums.
They are generally compact and, in most cases,
have attractive, petite foliage. They can flower
throughout the year --most heavily, of course, in
autumn and late summer -- and in a range of
colors. And the perfume is lovely. However, they
still have their faults, much like ascocendas
when they were first introduced. They were touted
as the answer for those who wanted vandas but had
neither the space nor the light intensity. These
problems were answered to an extent, but
ascocendas are still not for everyone. Nor are
these cymbidiums. They are still a little large
for windowsill culture and require high light.
Seek out tissue-cultured varieties and enjoy much
greater success with these than might be
expected. []
|