30 C(ELOGYNE. 



which for horticultural purposes may be associated with Eucorlogyne 

 (the true Coelogynes). Not so, however, Pleione, Lindley's third 

 section, which differs from Euccelggyne in the one- sometimes two- 

 flowered peduncle, but more especially in the vegetative organs, the 

 clustered pseudo-bulbs and leaves that are deciduous, and in some other 

 characteristics which necessitate for them a cultural treatment quite 

 different from that of the true Coelogynes. We therefore find it 

 advisable to separate the Pleiones from Coelogyne, regarding the 

 former as a sub-genus of the latter. 



The section Euc(ELOgyne was divided by Lindley into sub-sections 

 that are founded chiefly on differences observable in the inflorescence. 

 Of these, Erectm {Normales, Bentham\ with few-flowered, erect racemes, 

 and Flaccidce, with many-flowered, drooping racemes, are natural and 

 distinct ; while Filifercp, including species with narrow petals, and 

 Proliferce, having hard, imbricating scales immediately below the 

 flowers, are somewhat artificial divisions, and may be neglected by 

 cultivators. A fifth sub-section, with erect flexuose racemes, includes 

 two or three Malayan species unknown in cultivation. Of the Erectce^ 

 Coelogyne ocellata is a good representative type, and of the Flaccidce, 

 G. flaccida is the type, and 0. cristata, 0. 3Iassangeana and 0. Day ana 

 are well-known favourites. 



The following characters are common to nearly all the species 

 referred to Euccelogyne : — 



The psPAido-hulhs are seated on a scaly rhizome, at longer or shorter 

 intervals ; they are usually of ovoid form, hut sometimes elongated and 

 angulate, and are persistent several years. They Lear at their apex two 

 leaves that are sometimes of large size with long foot-stalks and folded 

 (plicate) blades, and are persistent two or more years. 



The inflorescence is loosely racemose, the scapes as well as the pedicels 

 and ovaries of the flowers are enclosed in sheathing pale brown bracts; 

 these, both cauline and floral, are usually very large, the latter often 

 falling before the flowers. 



Tlie flo'wers are either large or of medium size, of which the sepals 

 and petals are nearly similar and sub-equal ; in the sub-section Filiferw, 

 the petals are very narrow ; the lip is sessile at the base of the column 

 which it embraces, and is traversed longitudinally either a part or the 

 whole of its length by 2 — 5 or more fringed or sinuous raised lines. 

 The elongated column is winged on both sides, the wings being gradually 

 dilated upAvards. The pollinia are four. 



The genus Coelogyne was founded by Dr. Lindley, in 1825, on 



