Another large group, Cymbidium, with 17 medicinal species, is also much studied. Fourteen species of Coelogyne are medicinal and several have been studied phytochemically by Majumder’s group in Calcutta. Calanthe species contain compounds with antitumour and hair-restoring properties. TCM makes use of 14 species of Calanthe and Rumphius who authored Hut Amboinesche Kruidboek described Calanthe triplicata.
A good percentage of the orchids are commonly cultivated as ornamental plants and many hybrids have been produced with Calanthe and Cymbidium. This large chapter describe the herbal usage and pharmacology of 73 species in 12 genera ( Calanthe, Callostylis, Cephalanthera, Cleisostoma, Coelogyne, Conchidium, Corymborkhis, Cremastra, Crepidium, Cymbidium, Cypripedium and Cyrtosia).
