Name: Cymbidium floribundum Lindl.

Synonyms: Cymbidium pumilum Rolfe; Cymbidium illiberale Hayata

Etymology: The genus name Cymbidium derives from the Greek word for “little boat” and refers to the shape of the lip. The Latin floribundum means “profusely flowering.”

First description: John Lindley, 1833.

Origin/Distribution: Southern China, Taiwan, and northern Vietnam.

Location/Habitat: Terrestrial, lithophytic, or epiphytic in evergreen forests and on rocky slopes across a wide range of elevations. The species is grown under cool to intermediate conditions; temperatures of approximately 8–24 °C with a marked drop at night are favorable.

Description and notes: Cymbidium floribundum forms compact clumps of ovoid pseudobulbs and narrow, strap-shaped leaves. Its upright to arching inflorescences bear numerous small, waxy flowers in reddish-brown to olive-green tones, with a pale lip marked in purple-red. During summer growth, we provide the plant with plenty of water and a weak fertilizer solution. In autumn and winter, brighter conditions, reduced watering, and cool nights of around 10–13 °C encourage flowering; the pseudobulbs should not be allowed to shrivel significantly.