Coelogyne
(from koilos, hollow, and gyne, female; in reference to the female organ, or pistil). ORD. Orchideae. Including Pleione. Very handsome stove epiphytal orchids, described as follows: A race of pseudo-bulbous Orchids, conspicuous for large coloured membranous flowers, with converging and slightly spreading sepals; petals of like nature, but narrower; a great cucullate lip, usually bearing fringes on its veins; and a broad membranous column. The majority of the species are what may be termed cool-house, or, at any rate, intermediate-house, plants; for, although they like a somewhat higher temperature when growing, they remain more healthy, and flower more abundantly, if kept quite cool during the resting and flowering period. Pot culture is preferable for these plants, although they may also be grown upon blocks of wood. When small, and under this latter treatment, they are apt to dwindle away, instead of increasing in size. In preparing the pots or pans, good drainage must be carefully provided, as, although Coelogynes require and enjoy a liberal supply of water during the growing season, nothing stagnant or sour must be allowed to come near the roots. A good compost may be formed of about equal parts living sphagnum and fibrous peat, with the addition of a little silver sand. The plants should be raised upon a moderate-sized cone above the rim of the pot, and then firmly pressed down. The time for repotting or surfacing is just after the flowers are past; and, as the blooming season of most of the kinds is during winter, this will come round about the middle of February. Although, as before remarked, these plants require a copious supply of water when growing, care must be taken that it does not lie in the centre of the young shoots, or they will be very apt to decay. When the growth is fully matured, an amount of moisture just sufficient to keep the pseudo-bulbs from shrivelling, will be all that is necessary. C. asperata (rough).* fl. about 3in. in diameter; sepals and petals pale cream-colour; lip ground-colour the same, richly marked with chocolate and yellow streaks and veins, which radiate from a rich orange-coloured central ridge or crest; raceme pendulous, about 1ft. long, many-flowered. Summer. h. 2ft. Borneo. This is a large-growing species, which requires a large pot and the heat of a warm stove to attain perfection.
C. barbata (bearded).* fl. snow-white, large; lip trifid, with projecting triangular acute middle lacina, three rows of narrow lamellae on the disk, and a border of ciliae; the lamellae, ciliae, and the top are altogether of a sepia-brown, verging to black, which forms an exceedingly neat contrast to the white colour of the other parts of the flowers; spikes erect. Assam, 1837. This very beautiful stove species requires a continuous and abundant supply of water while growing.
C. biflora (two-flowered). fl. white, brown. Moulmein, 1866. C. ciliata (ciliated).* fl. yellow and white, with some brown markings. Autumn. A compact-growing species, with light green leaves, and producing bulbs about 4in. high.
C. corrugata (wrinkled).* fl., sepals and petals pure white; lip white, with a yellow plate in front, and veined with orange; racemes erect, shorter than the leaves. Autumn. l. twin, about 6in. long, coriaceous. Pseudo-bulbs much corrugated or wrinkled, and apple-green in colour, India, 1866. A handsome cool-house species. (B. M 5601.) C. corymbosa (corymbose). fl. pure white. February. The flower-spikes in most instances are nicely thrown above its beautiful deep green arching foliage, whilst others nestle amongst its large pseudo-bulbs. India, 1876. C. cristata (crested).* fl. fragrant, 3in. to 4in. in diameter; sepals and petals snow-white; lip white, with a large blotch of rich yellow in the middle, the veins being ornamented with a golden crest-like fringe; raceme somewhat drooping, many-flowered, about 9in. long. December to March. l. twin, narrow, coriaceous, dark green. Pseudo-bulbs somewhat oblong, smooth, shining, apple-green colour. Nepaul, 1837. When growing, the temperature of the cool end of the Cattleya house will suit this species admirably; but during winter, it should be kept quite cool; indeed, when in flower, it may be removed to the drawing room or parlour without fear of injury, forming there a most enjoyable and attractive ornament. It must, however, be placed in the stove again before the shoots begin to grow, or the dryness of the atmosphere may cause the growths to be stunted, and thus one season's bloom would be lost. It is extremely easy to grow. One of its many admirers says, "You may take a piece, and suspend it to a piece of copper wire in a temperate library, to the level of the nose, and it shall be to that organ, and to the eye that sees it, as agreeable three weeks hence as it is to-day, by simply taking a mouthful of pure water and giving the bulb a squirt every morning without wetting the leaves." (B. R. 27, 57.) There is a variety of this plant having a pale lemon-coloured blotch upon the lip, instead of the rich yellow colour of the normal form; and another with pure white flowers (see Warner and Williams' "Orchid Album," t. 54).
C. Cumingii (Cuming's).* fl., sepals and petals white; lip bright yellow, with white down the centre. h. 2ft. Singapore, 1840. A very pretty species, retaining its beauty for a considerable period.
C. flaccida (flaccid).* fl. with a somewhat heavy odour; sepals and petals white; lip white, stained with pale yellow in front, and streaked with crimson towards its base; racemes long, pendulous, many-flowered. Winter and spring. l. twin, dark green, coriaceous. Pseudo-bulbs oblong. h. 1ft. Nepaul. An erect-growing free-flowering species, of considerable beauty. (B. M. 3318.) C. fuscescens (dark-brownish). fl. large; sepals and petals of a pale yellowish-brown, tipped with white; lip edged with white and streaked with orange-yellow, and having on each side of the base two spots of cinnamon-brown; raceme slightly pendulous, few-flowered. Winter. l. about 9in. long, broad, dark green in colour. Pseudo-bulbs about 4in. or 5in. high. Moulmein. (G. C. 1848, 71.) A variety, brunnea, has pure brown flowers. C. Gardneriana (Gardner's).* fl. large, pure white, saving at the base of the lip, where they are stained with lemon-colour; at the base of each is a large white fleshy bract; raceme long, nodding, many-flowered. Winter. l. twin, lanceolate, thin, bright green, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long, 3in. wide. Pseudo-bulbs long, narrow, tapering from the base upwards, resembling long flasks. h. 1ft. Khasia, 1837. Stove. (P. M. B. 6, 73.) C. Gowerii (Gower's).* fl., sepals and petals snow-white; lip also white, having three parallel raised lines and a lemon-coloured blotch on the disk; raceme pendulous, many-flowered. Winter and spring. l. lanceolate, about 6in. long, bright green. Pseudo-bulbs ovate, shining green. Assam, 1869. A rare but lovely small-growing species, suitable for cultivation on a block of wood. It requires cool treatment.
C. Hookeriana (Hooker's).* fl. rose-purple, white, brown, yellow. May. h. 3in. Sikkim, 1878. A pretty little species of the Pleione section, differing from most of its fellows by producing its leaves and flowers simultaneously. SYN. Pleione Hookeriana.
C. humilis (humble).* fl. solitary, 3in. in diameter; sepals and petals white, faintly, or somewhat deeply, tinged with rose-colour; lip white, spotted and streaked with crimson and brown, and traversed by six parallel veins, which are fringed, as is also the border. Late autumn. l. plaited, dark green. Pseudo-bulbs ovate, dark green. Nepaul, 1866. SYN. Pleione humilis. (B. M. 5674.) There is a variety with yellow spots and stains on lip. C. lagenaria (bottle-shaped). fl. solitary; sepals and petals lilac or rose-colour; lip large, white, striped and barred with rich crimson and yellow, and waved and crisped at the margin; scape springing from the very base of the pseudo-bulb. l. solitary, thin, plaited, about 6in. long. Pseudo-bulbs somewhat flask or bottle-shaped, flattened below the conical neck, and there lapping over, like the lid of a box; dark green, mottled brown, wrinkled. Khasia, 1856. SYN. Pleione lagenaria. (B. M. 5370.) C. maculata (spotted).* fl., sepals and petals white; lip white, beautifully barred with crimson; bracts pale green, inflated. October, November. l. 6in. long. Pseudo-bulbs depressed at the top, forming a kind of ring around a short thick beak, whence the leaves have fallen; partly clothed with brown scales. Khasia, Assam, &c., 1837. SYNS. Gomphostylis candida and Pleione maculata. (B. M. 4691.) C. Massangeana (Massange's).* fl., sepals and petals light ochre-coloured; lip trifid, beautiful maroon-brown, with ochre-coloured veins; raceme pendulous, many, but loosely, flowered. Pseudo-bulbs pyriform, bearing two Stanhopea-like leaves. 1879. Stove. This species is closely allied to C. asperata. (F. M. n. s. 373.) C. media (middle).* fl. on spikes 10in. high; sepals and petals creamy-white; lip yellow and brown. Khasia, 1837. A pretty small-growing winter-flowering species, with short round pseudo-bulbs, and leaves 7in. long. C. ocellata (eyed).* fl., sepals and petals pure white; lip curiously fringed or crested, white, streaked and spotted with yellow and brown at the base; side lobes with two bright yellow spots on each; column bordered with bright orange; racemes upright. March and April. l. long, narrow, bright green, longer than the racemes. Pseudo-bulbs ovate. India, 1822. A very pretty species, well adapted for block culture. (B. M. 3767.) The variety maxima is a very handsome form, with a raceme of about eight star-like flowers; the segments lanceolate; lip saddle-shaped, with a terminal lobe marked with yellow. 1879.
C. odoratissima (very sweet-scented).* fl. pure white, excepting the centre of the lip, where they are stained with yellow, sweet-scented; raceme slender, pendulous. Winter. l. twin, pale green, lanceolate, about 4in. long. Pseudo-bulbs thickly clustered together, about 1in. high. India, 1864. This species grows freely if not kept too warm, and will probably succeed perfectly in a cool orchid house. (B. M. 5462.) C. pandurata (fiddle-shaped).* fl. upwards of 3in. in diameter, very fragrant; sepals and petals of a very lively green; lip of the same colour, having several deep velvety black raised ridges or crests running parallel upon its surface, oblong, but curiously bent down at the sides, thus assuming somewhat the form of a violin; raceme pendulous, longer than the leaves, many-flowered. June, July. l. bright shining green, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long. Pseudo-bulbs large, broadly ovate, compressed at the edges. h. 1 1/2ft. Borneo, 1853. A very curious and distinct flowering stove species. (B. M. 5084.) C. Parishii (Parish's). fl. yellow, brown. Moulmein, 1862. (B. M. 5323.) C. plantaginea (Plantain-leaved).* fl. greenish-yellow; lip white, streaked with brown. h. 1 1/2ft. India, 1852. A distinct and pretty species. C. Reichenbachiana (Reichenbach's). fl. large, produced in pairs; sepals and petals rose-coloured; lip rose, but shaded with purple and fringed in front with crimson. Autumn. Pseudo-bulbs larger than in any other known species, and peculiarly netted. Moulmein, 1868. A rare and very distinct species. SYN. Pleione Reichenbachiana. (B. M. 5753.) C. Rhodeana (Rhode's). fl. white, fragrant; lip brown. Moluccas, 1867. C. Schilleriana (Schiller's).* fl. solitary, 3in. long; sepals and petals yellow, lanceolate; lip oblong, contracting in the middle, expanding into a roundish two-lobed lamina, marked with regular purplish blotches. June. l. oblong-lanceolate, tapering to a stalk. Pseudo-bulbs small. h. 6in. Moulmein, 1858. (B. M. 5072.) C. speciosa (showy).* fl. upwards of 3in. in diameter, mostly produced in pairs at the end of a slender peduncle; sepals and petals brownish or olive-green, the latter very long, and narrower than the sepals; lip very beautiful, both in the colour and marking, and in the exquisite fringe of the crests and margin, ground-colour yellow, variously veined with dark red, base dark brown, apex pure white. Hooker describes the peculiar lip as follows: "The form is oblong; it is three-lobed, the lateral lobes small, resembling ears, the latter and the margin of the broad two-lobed middle lobe or segment fringed. Two long crests run nearly the whole length of the lip; these are copiously fringed with pedunculated stellated hairs, and are beautiful objects for the microscope." l. solitary, oblong-lanceolate, thin, dark green. Pseudo-bulbs somewhat oblong. h. 1 1/2ft. Java, 1845. This species is almost a perpetual blossomer. (B. M. 4889.) C. sulphurea (sulphur-coloured).* fl. yellowish-green; lip white, with yellow streaks; column with a yellow blotch at its base; racemes few-flowered. Java, 1871.
C. viscosa (viscid).* fl., sepals and petals white; lip white, having side-lobes broadly streaked with rich brown. Summer. l. dark green, tapering towards the base. Pseudo-bulbs fusiform in shape. India, 1870. A rare species, not very unlike C. flaccida.
C. Wallichiana (Wallich's).* fl. about 3in. across, sweet-scented, usually solitary; sepals and petals large, bright rose-coloured; lip of a similar hue, but striped in the centre with bands of pure white. Khasia, 1837. A very handsome dwarf species. SYN. Pleione Wallichiana. (B. M. 4496.)