Orchid Man in the United Kingdom

Cymbidium: Species of Cymbidium are surprisingly few in number when one considers the tens of thousands of hybrids that have been raised over a period of 100 years, not mentioning the hybrids that have already been lost in the shadows of time and replaced by new ones. Of these 50 or so species widely distributed throughout Asia, it was hardly more than half a dozen from the Himalayan regions of India and Nepal that became the building blocks for the first hybrids, Those once considered to be the main species in this natural genus are Cymbidium insigne , C. lowanium , C. eburneum  and C. tracyanum , all cultivated for their showy flowers. However, once hybrids started to appear, the species became less attractive to growers, who were looking for improved shape and size. The species, once so plentiful, were often disposed of in favour of the new hybrids, until they were hardly represented in collections at all. This is no surprise if we consider that in case of some new hybrids of the t