''Cymbilabia undulata'' is a vandaceous species of epiphytic orchid native to the Bhutan, Myanmar, China, India and Nepal.

Description

The petals and sepals of the fragrant, white flowers, have an undulate margin. The flowers are formed on panicles, which may reach up to 50 cm in length. The labellum is yellow and has numerous pink lines at the basal end. Waxy, leathery leaves are formed on an ascending or pendulous stem.

Taxonomy

This species was recently transferred from ''Vandopsis'' to the newly erected genus ''Cymbilabia''. It was erected as response to the discovery of the then paraphyletic nature of the genus ''

Vandopsis ''Vandopsis'', abbreviated as Vdps in horticultural trade, is a genus of orchids in the family Orchidaceae. It contains ca. 5 species found in Southeast Asia, Southern China, the Philippines, and New Guinea. Recently ''Vandopsis undulata'' was ex ...

'', which would not have formed a monophyletic group under the inclusion of ''Cymbilabia undulata''. After this initial transfer another former ''Vandopsis'' species, namely ''

Vandopsis shanica ''Vandopsis'', abbreviated as Vdps in horticultural trade, is a genus of orchids in the family Orchidaceae. It contains ca. 5 species found in Southeast Asia, Southern China, the Philippines, and New Guinea. Recently ''Vandopsis undulata'' was ex ...

'' (Phillim. & W.W.Sm.) Garay was transferred to ''Cymbilabia''. Another species, namely ''Cymbilabia sourioudongii'' Souvann. & Lanors. has been proposed.Souvannakhoummane, K., Lanorsavanh, S., Rakthai, P., Kumar, P., & Gale, S. W. (2021)
"''Cymbilabia sourioudongii'' (Orchidaceae), a new species from Lao PDR."
Rheedea, 31, 186-190.

Etymology

Both the generic name and the specific epithet refer to the floral morphology. The genus name ''Cymbilabia'' is derived from the Latin word ''cymba'' meaning "cup", "bowl" or "boat" Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956)
"The Composition of Scientific Words."
p. 249. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. and ''labium'', which is the labellum. The specific epithet ''undulata'' refers to the undulate margin of petals and sepals.

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q15249593, from2=Q108440434 Aeridinae Plants described in 2020 Epiphytic orchids Lithophytic orchids Flora of India (region) Flora of Myanmar Flora of Nepal Flora of Vietnam Flora of Tibet Flora of China Flora of Bhutan Orchids of Bhutan Orchids of India Orchids of Myanmar Orchids of Nepal Orchids of Vietnam Orchids of China