About Cymbidium suave R.Br.
Cymbidium suave R.Br., commonly called snake orchid, is an epiphytic clumping herb. It has grass-like leaves and lacks prominent pseudobulbs. Its stems are 300–500 mm (12–20 in) long and 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) wide, and are covered with overlapping leaf bases. Each stem bears between four and eight strap-shaped leaves, which measure 300–450 mm (12–18 in) long and 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) wide. Between five and fifty strongly scented flowers grow on an often arching flowering stem 100–300 mm (3.9–12 in) long. The flowers are olive green to dark or brownish green, and are 23–35 mm (0.91–1.4 in) long and 20–30 mm (0.79–1.2 in) wide. Sepals are 12–15 mm (0.47–0.59 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide, while petals measure 8–11 mm (0.31–0.43 in) long and 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) wide. The labellum is 8–11 mm (0.31–0.43 in) long and 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) wide, and is faintly divided into three lobes. Flowering takes place between August and January. This orchid grows in woodland and forest, found in the hollows of old trees or within fallen, decaying trees. It occurs between Cooktown in Queensland and Bega in New South Wales, and extends inland as far as Tamworth.
