COELOGYNE CRISTATA. Northern India, Sikkim, etc. (Illustrated.) 
The most popular species of Coelogyne grown, and one which amply repays the 
trouble taken to grow it. Actually it is a native of the Himalayan passes, and in 
the streets of Darjeeling the native hawkers frequently offer for sale baskets of 
this lovely plant plucked from its harbouring trees in the forests of the moun- 
tain slopes. It used to be considered that this plant would not thrive unless after 
every two years’ absence it was returned to its native fastnesses. However, it 
has now been proved that cristata will in time flower quite well in Australia 
once it has become well acclimatised, and providing it gets reasonably cool treat- 
ment. The pseudobulbs are from 2 inches to 3 inches in length, and in a healthy 
state are spheroid and smooth and shiny; when the plant is in poor condition the 
pseudobulbs crinkle and shrink. Two leaves are produced from each pseudobulb, 
and are narrow, pointed, leathery, about six inches long and dark green in colour. 
The flower raceme springs from the bottom of the fully grown pseudobulbs and 
bears five or more large white flowers with a brilliant’ yellow crest on the lip. 
These flowers last from five to six weeks, and are fragrant. It should be grown in 
the coolest part of the bushhouse and should have copious water right through 
the growing period. After growth has been completed it may advantageously 
be transferred to a rather warmer position and the quantity of water consider- 
ably diminished. Growers must not expect quick results from this orchid. It takes 
a long time to become fully acclimatised and it hates being repotted. Once it 
has found itself in satisfactory surroundings, however, it grows quite rapidly, 
and when it has once commenced to flower it will bloom regularly every year, 
and with an increasing quantity of blossom. For the patient grower it is a species 
well worth having. 
Varieties. There are several variations from the type, the best being: Coelogyne 
cristata alba—pure white all over, Coelogyne cristata citrina, lip pale yellow; 
and Coelogyne cristata major, very large flowers and somewhat more robust. 
COELOGYNE DAYANA. Native of Borneo. 
A striking species having long pear-shaped pseudobulbs from which spring two 
stalked, oval, pointed leaves. The flower scapes are long and pendulous and carry 
from twenty to thirty flowers each about 2 inches in diameter, the sepals and 
petals being light yellow, the lip having broad, dark brown stripes at the sides 
with a brown semi-circle on the middle lobe, opening toward the base. It flowers 
in midsummer, the blooms lasting from three weeks to a month, if kept protected 
from water. The cultural remarks made concerning Coelogyne asperata apply to 
this species also, as it is found in similar surroundings to those set out for asperata. 
COELOGYNE ELATA. Native of Northern India, Sikkim, etc. 
This species has a superficial resemblance to Coelogyne cristata, and hence is some- 
times sent from India as cristata. The pseudobulbs are larger and more angular 
than those of cristata, and the leaves are larger and broader and are striated (cov- 
ered with a net work of fine lines). The flowers are not unlike those of cristata, 
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