Coelogyne
Coelogyne is a genus of about 600 species, of sympodial epiphytes from the family Orchidaceae, distributed across India, China, Indonesia and the Fiji islands, with the main centers in Borneo, Sumatra and the Himalayas. They can be found from tropical lowland forests to montane rainforests. A few species grow as terrestrials or even as lithophytes in open, humid habitats.
Description
Vegetative characteristics
Coelogyne are mostly epithytic, sympodial, pseudobulbous, rhizomatous herbs with pendulous or creeping rhizomes and thin roots. The cylindrical to conical pseudobulbs bear stalked or sessile leaves at the apex.Generative characteristics
This genus lacks the saccate base of the labellum, a typical characteristic which is present in the other genera in the subtribe Coelogyninae. The free lip has high lateral lobes along the basal part of the labellum and smooth, toothed or warty keels.Inflorescences often show a small to very large number of showy, medium-sized to large flowers. They may arise either from the apex of the newly completed pseudobulb at the end of the growing season, or may precede the new growth in early spring. The typical colour range of this genus is white, through tawny brown to green, and occasionally peachy tones. All species have four pollinia.
They have often a sweet scent, attracting different kinds of pollinators, such as bees, wasps and beetles.