Cymbidium aloifolium
Object Details
- Description
- This large orchid has thick, ridged leaves from which it takes its common name, and is the type species for its genus. Its flowers are not particularly variable, and can be differentiated from C. dayanum (with which this orchid is often confused) by their rounded lip edge.
- Bloom Time (Northern Hemisphere)
- February to August; peaks in April
- Ethnobotanical Uses
- In India, the dried tubers of this flower have been ground to make salep - a type of flower.
- Medicinal / Pharmaceutical
- In India, a mixture of this dried and powdered plant has been used to induce vomiting, diarrhea, cure chronic illness, eye weakness, vertigo, and paralysis. In Nepal, a paste has been used for fractured and dislocated bones, and used as a tonic when powdered. In Sri Lanka, it has been part of oils that were applied to tumors. In Indochina generally, the plant has been used for menstrual irregularity and to treat burns and sores.
- Pollination Syndrome
- Bee (Xylocopa)
- Provenance
- From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
- Data Source
- Smithsonian Gardens
- Accession Number
- 2012-0987C
- Restrictions & Rights
- CC0
- Life Form
- Epiphytic
- Bloom Characteristics
- Pendulous inflorescence is up to 24" long with 25-45 flowers. Flowers are 1.7-2.2" across.
- Foliage Characteristics
- Thick, ridged
- Fragrance
- Faint
- Range
- Himalaya to W Malesia
- Habitat
- Evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, dry lowland forests, savana-like woods; 50-1500m
- See more items in
- Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection
- Common Name
- Sonu
- The Aloe-Leafed Cymbidium
- Group
- [vascular plants]
- Class
- Equisetopsida
- Subclass
- Magnoliidae
- Superorder
- Lilianae
- Order
- Asparagales
- Family
- Orchidaceae
- Subfamily
- Epidendroideae
- Genus
- Cymbidium
- Species
- aloifolium
- Topic
- Orchids
- Living Collections
- Record ID
- ofeo-sg_2012-0987C
