Cymbidium canaliculatum
Channelled boat-lip orchid, tiger boat-lip orchid, native cymbidium, tiger orchid
This epiphytic orchid is uncommon in the Brisbane area. It is is common further west in dry open forests, but a few plants grow on the dryer western slopes of Brisbane forest park.
This orchid is easily identified by its distinctive curved rigid channelled leaves which grow to 50 cm. Plants are typically conspicuous growing into large clumps in broken branches and tree hollows.
The flower stems grow to 60 cm with up to 60 flowers about 30 mm across. Flowers are extremely variable in colour, but are usually yellowish green with brown splotching.
This distinctive orchid with its rigid curved leaves cannot be confused with any other orchid.