Studies On The Classification Of The Chinese Cymbidiums Cultivars

The Chinese cymbidiums with seven species belong to the subgenus Jensoa,genus Cymbidium,family Orchidaceae,including Cymbidium goeringii,C.faberi,C.ensifolium,C.sinense,C.kanran,C.lianpan and C.longibracteatum.They are distributed in the provinces situated the south of Qinling Mountains where is hihg temperature in summer and usually has not frost or snow in winter except for the north area of their distribution.They are called the Chinese cymbidiums because of the long cultivation history and the widely growing in China.Based on the observations of the Chinese Cymbidiums Cultivars,quantity data about features of cultivars have been have been collected with the help of ruler,sliding caliper,shade selection card and clear photos. Then,a description system of Chinese Cymbidiums cultivars with botanic and horticulture terms has been suggested.About 160 cultivars from Cymbidium goeringii,C.ensifolium,C.lianpan and C.Longibracteatum have been collected and described in the studies.It is the first time that the description system of Chinese Cymbidiums cultivars were descrbed by botanic terms and it lays a sound foundation for research,resources management,normalizing market of the Chinese Cymbidiums cultivars.Combined our observations,traditional classification of the Chinese Cymbidiums cultivars and the classifying systems of other flowers,the author suggeseted a complete classification system of the Chinese Cymbidiums cultivars including Series,group and form together,and made a key for the identifying the Chinese Cymbidiums cultivars.First,based on different species the Chinese Cymbidiums cultivars was classified into seven Series, including of Series Goeringii,Series Longibractium,Series Faberi,Series Ensifolium,Series Kanran,Series Sinense and Series Lianpan.Second,each Series was grouped into Normal-petal group and Multi-petals group depending on the condition of flower parts.Normal-petal group includes all cultivars with normal flower;and Multi-petals group has more of petals or lip or column than normal flower.At last,each group has been divied furtherly depending on the colour,shape and number of flower parts in different evolution stage.Normal-petal group was divided into eight forms and multi-petals group ten forms.