Cymbidium Swart

Ariyarathne, W. A. M. P., Yakandawala, Deepthi, Samuel, Rosabelle & Wijesundara, Siril, 2017, Evaluating the occurrence and conservation statuses of Sri Lankan Orchids (Orchidaceae): Observations on newly recorded species and undocumented regions, Phytotaxa 308 (1), pp. 37-53 : 47

Cymbidium Swart

There are three species in Sri Lanka belong to genus Cymbidium . Two species were recorded, C. ensifolium and C. bicolor enlisted as VU and LC species respectively ( MOE, 2012), where the latter is said to be occurring in low land wet zone ( Fernando & Ormerod, 2008). However, observations were also made from Peradeniya (montane zone) and Polgahawela (intermediate zone) extending the area of occurrence and suggesting that this species is capable of adapting to the higher elevation with lower temperature and lower elevation with higher temperatures. A fairly large population of C. ensifolium was observed in Kanneliya, growing as a terrestrial plant on forest floor with scented flowers. In 1981, Jayaweera recorded this species as an epiphyte found in the sub-montane or mid-country tropical wet evergreen forests. Observations suggest that this species has wider dispersion reaching the low country wet zone and the habitat adapted to terrestrial growing.