Coelogyne

Coelogyne
Coelogyne cristata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Tribe:	Arethuseae
Subtribe:	Coelogyninae
Genus:	Coelogyne Lindl.
Type species
Coelogyne cristata Lindl. [1]
Species
See List of Coelogyne species
Synonyms [2]
List AcanthoglossumBlume AcoridiumNees & Meyen AndrogyneGriff. BasigyneJ.J.Sm. BracisepalumJ.J.Sm. BroughtoniaWall. ex Lindl. BulleyiaSchltr. CamelostalixPfitzer ChelonantheraBlume ChelonistelePfitzer CrinoniaBlume DendrochilumBlume DickasoniaL.O.Williams Entomophobiade Vogel Geesinkorchisde Vogel GynoglottisJ.J.Sm. HologynePfitzer IschnogyneSchltr. KalimpongiaPradhan NabaluiaAmes NeogynaRchb.f. OtochilusLindl. Panisea(Lindl.) Lindl. PholidotaLindl. PlatyclinisBenth. PseudacoridiumAmes PtilocnemaD.Don PtychogynePfitzer SigmatochilusRolfe SigmatogynePfitzer TetrapeltisWall. ex Lindl. ZetagyneRidl.

Coelogyne is a genus of about 600 species, ^[2] 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, ^[3] rhizomatous herbs with pendulous or creeping rhizomes ^[4] and thin roots. The cylindrical to conical pseudobulbs bear stalked or sessile leaves at the apex. ^[5]

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 (hypochile) 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 (as in Coelogyne fimbriata), or may precede the new growth in early spring (as in Coelogyne cristata). The typical colour range of this genus is white, through tawny brown to green, and occasionally peachy tones. All species have four pollinia.^{[ citation needed ]}

They have often a sweet scent, attracting different kinds of pollinators, such as bees, wasps and beetles. ^{[6] [7]}

Taxonomy

It was first published as CaelogyneLindl. by Lindl. in 1821, ^{[8] [1] [9]} but it was later changed to CoelogyneLindl. in 1825. ^{[1] [9]} The lectotype species is Coelogyne cristataLindl. ^[1] It is the type genus of the subtribe Coelogyninae Benth. . ^[10] The traditional taxonomy of the genus Coelogyne is still disputed. Coelogyne has been subdivided in 23 sections or subgenera by De Vogel (1994) and Clayton. Molecular data show that Coelogyne is paraphyletic and should be reorganised. It should include the genera Neogyna and Pholidota , and several sections should be removed, including Cyathogyne, Tomentosae, Rigidiformes, Veitchiae and Verrucosae. This new genus Coelogyne should then contain about 160 species. ^[7]

Species

See List of Coelogyne species

Coelogyne odoardoi

Coelogyne pandurata

Coelogyne chlorophaea

Etymology

The generic name Coelogyne is derived from the Greek koilos meaning hollow, and gyne, meaning pistil or woman. It refers to the concave stigma. ^{[11] [7]}

Ecology

Habitat

Coelogyne grow as epiphytic, or rarely lithophytic or terrestrial plants in tropical rainforests ^[6] at elevations of 0–3000 m above sea level. ^[7]

Pollinations

The flowers are pollinated by beetles, wasps and bees. ^{[6] [7]}

References

1. Coelogyne Lindl. | International Plant Names Index. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2023, from https://www.ipni.org/n/30175266-2
2. "Coelogyne". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
3. Teoh, E.S. (2021). Coelogyne Lindl.. In: Orchid Species from Himalaya and Southeast Asia Vol. 1 (A - E). Springer, Cham.
4. Coelogyne in Flora of China @ efloras.org. (n.d.). Retrieved January 19, 2025, from http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=107571
5. D.L. Jones. Coelogyne, in Z.P. Groeneveld (ed.), Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Coelogyne [Date Accessed: 20 January 2025]
6. Gravendeel, B., Chase, M. W., de Vogel, E. F., Roos, M. C., Mes, T. H., & Bachmann, K. (2001). Molecular phylogeny of Coelogyne (Epidendroideae; Orchidaceae) based on plastid RFLPs, matK, and nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences: evidence for polyphyly. American Journal of Botany, 88(10), 1915-1927.
7. Gravendeel, B. (2000). Reorganising the orchid genus Coelogyne: A phylogenetic classification based on morphology and molecules. Nationaal Herbarium Nederland.
8. Lindley, John & Richard and Arthur Taylor. (1821). Collectanea botanica, or, Figures and botanical illustrations of rare and curious exotic plants (Issue 7). Printed by Richard and Arthur Taylor, Shoe-Lane, sold by J. and A. Arch. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/5438670
9. Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.-d). Coelogyne Lindl. Tropicos. Retrieved January 19, 2025, from https://www.tropicos.org/name/40011615
10. Missouri Botanical Garden. (n.d.-e). Coelogyninae Benth. Tropicos. Retrieved January 19, 2025, from https://www.tropicos.org/name/100481612
11. Coelogyne. (n.d.). American Orchid Society. Retrieved January 19, 2025, from https://www.aos.org/explore/coelogyne

Further reading

• Teuscher, H. 1976. Coelogyne and Pleione. American Orchid Society Bulletin 45(8):688.