Coelogyne Lindl.

Abstract

Coelogyne is a genus comprised by 190 species of sympodial, pseudobulbous, leafy, predominantly epiphytic and occasionally saxicolous orchids that are distributed from the lowlands to montane forests from Himalaya across southern China to Japan and Southeast Asia to the Solomon Islands with 1 species at the southwest tip of the Indian Peninsular. Rhizomes are short or long; pseudobulbs erect, ovoid to cylindrical; leaves are coriaceous, elliptic, commonly ribbed and with long petioles, long-lived. Inflorescence carries one to many flowers, opening simultaneously or in quick succession. Flowers are white, green, yellow, orange or brown with expended sepals and petals. Lip is trilobed, marked with keels and distinct colouration. Coelogyne tsii is an exception as it carries bright red flowers with white markings on the lip (Nyan Htun 2019). Most species are very beautiful, some spectacular when in bloom (Fig. 32.1), and they are easy plants to cultivate. Nevertheless, they have not been popular with growers in the tropics because flowering is seasonal; the flowers are short lived, generally lasting a week; and colour is not vivid.