Orchid Information - Genus Coelogyne section Speciosae

Coelogyne Lindl. section Speciosae Pfitzer & Kraenzl. in Engl., Pflanzenr. 32 (1907) 28. Type species: Coelogyne speciosa (Blume) Lindl.

Synonyms:

Creeping, medium-size to large epiphytes, sometimes terrestrials or lithophytes. Roots rather slender to sturdy. Rhizome short, creeping, terete; rhizome scales 1-6, soon eroding. Inflorescence-bearing shoot with scales at the base; scales tightly imbricate, 5 or 6. Pseudobulbs 1- or 2-leaved (in some species 1- and 2-leaved pseudobulbs may occur on the same plant). Leaves stiff herbaceous. Petiole short to long, almost orbicular in section and channelled. Blade oblong to linear-lanceolate, striate and plaited, small to large; base decurrent onto the petiole, sometimes laterally notched; apex acute, acurninate or cuspidate. Inflorescence erect, proteranth or synanth with the partially to entirely developed leaves, 2- 7(-22)-flowered, glabrous. Peduncle ovoid in section, broadening to the apex, during flowering at the base enclosed by the leaf blade(s) and/ or scales of the young shoot, in a later stage by the petiole(s), usually long and elongating after anthesis. Rachis (sub)erect to curved, terete, zigzag, with slightly to distinctly curved internodes, each with a swollen node bearing a flower. Floral bracts deciduous or persistent, attached around the base of the petiole, the lowest bract longer and broader than the higher bracts; lanceolate to ovate to oblong; apex acute or acuminate or cuspidate. Flowers widely open, opening in succession or (nearly) simultaneously, distichous, medium­-sized to large, finely papillose. Pedicel terete, slightly twisted, glabrous; ovary twisted, 6-ribbed, glabrous. Median sepal boat-shaped, broadly sessile, ovate or (ovate-)oblong or (obovate-)lanceolate, glabrous; apex obtuse, acute, acuminate or apiculate; nerves 7-15, often with smaller cross veins, the midrib a rounded keel. Lateral sepals oblique, boat-shaped, ovate, (ovate-)oblong or ((ob)ovate-)lanceolate, glabrous; apex emarginate, obtuse, acute, acuminate or cuspidate; nerves 7-17, often with smaller cross veins, the midrib a rounded keel. Petals slightly to extremely recurved, with (a)centric midrib, linear, glabrous; apex emarginate, obtuse, acute, acuminate, cuspidate, apiculate or mucronate; nerves 1- 5, midrib prominent. Lip immobile, boat-shaped, 3-lobed, when flattened pandurate in outline, nerves 9-21. Hypochile broadly attached, flat or slightly saccate at the base; flat or slightly saccate towards the apex; lateral lobes erect, with acute, broadly rounded or obtuse sinus which is sometimes absent, in front rounded, obtuse or acute, slightly converging or diverging, with slightly to extremely irregularly erase front margin; keels 2-13, mostly widened along the crest, sometimes the keels fused into a thick callus (C. beccarii), or each keel a decurrent and undulating plate with entire margin (C. guamensis), or consisting of two, often interrupted, undulating rows of irregularly shaped rounded warts on each side of the crest, with a broad longitudinal groove in between (C. carinata, C. fragrans); all keels have minute papillae. Epichile convex, when flattened obrhomboid, (ob)ovate, orbicular, elliptic or broadly spathulate, with or without a broad, short claw; base broadly attached; apex emarginate, retuse, rounded, obtuse or acute, (slightly) raised, with an obtuse, acute or acuminate apex; margin (slightly) erase or entire, recurved; sides either or not pronounced as lateral lobes, with or without warts; keels 2-9, on the claw and plate either identical with the ornaments on the hypochile or changing into more or less tightly packed irregularly rounded warts towards the apex of the hypochile. Column curved to the front, when flattened spathulate; hood with winged margins, widest below the apex, gradually narrowing to the base, its apical margin more or less truncate or dentate, laterally notched where the wings are attached and sometimes with an additional notch or cuneate projection above, the middle part (slightly) rounded, recurved . Filament short. Anther basi­versatile, broadly, oblong or elongate bell-shaped in outline, near the place of attachment with a rounded, elongate or acute projecting apex; apex with or without notch . Pollinia four, flattened to one side, obliquely elliptic or obliquely orbicular, each with an oblique, earshaped depression which becomes shallower towards the caudicle, all connate at the apex by a caudicle; caudicle flattened, broadly triangular in outline, granular. Stigma cup-shaped, semi-orbicular with elevated, recurved margin; margin apex with or without an apical notch; rostellum more or less triangular, lateral margins incurved, with a truncate, obtuse, broadly rounded or acute apex with or without apical notch. Fruit body ellipsoid, beaked by the persistent column and remnants of the perianth; valvae keeled, keels plate-like; juga band-like with a pronounced longitudinal ridge, with or without notches.
(after Gravendeel & de Vogel 1999)

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