Cymbidium sinense
(Jacks.) Willd.
(c) JODY HSIEH, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by JODY HSIEH
(c) ssnp208, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) JODY HSIEH, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by JODY HSIEH
What to Eat
Edible parts: Flowers
The species Cymbidium hookerianum is considered a delicacy in Bhutan, where it is traditionally cooked in a spicy curry or stew and called "olatshe" or "olachoto".
Where to Find It
It is a tropical plant. It grows in wet and well-drained shaded places along streams between 300-2,000 m above sea level. In Yunnan.
Asia, China, India, Indochina, Japan, Myanmar, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam,
How to Identify
An orchid. It grows in the soil. The false bulbs are oval and 3-6 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. They are enclosed in the leaf bases. There are 3-5 leaves. They are deep green and 45-110 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. They bend 4-7 cm from the base. The flowering shoot arises from the base of the false bulb. It is 50-90 cm long. There are 10-20 flowers. They have a scent. They vary in colour but are usually dark purple and paler at the lip.
Names & Synonyms
References (1)
- Liu, Yi-tao, & Long, Chun-Lin, 2002, Studies on Edible Flowers Consumed by Ethnic Groups in Yunnan. Acta Botanica Yunnanica. 24(1):41-56
