Growing Orchids

The Coelogyne Story

     Coelogyne mossiae

Coelogyne is a pseudobulbous, evergreen, sympodial epiphyte. It varies considerably with the species, the bulbs of C. cristate being short, plump, and well rounded, while those of C. Pandurata are flattened, compressed, and distichous. The flowers are oddly attractive and of crisp texture, growing freely on racemes coming from the center of the new growths, and usually having sepals broader than the smaller petals.

The Catasetum Story

    Catasetum macrocarpum

Catasetum is a genus that is of special interest not because of its beauty, but because of the weird shape of its flowers and the amazing contrivances used in pollination. It is seldom seen in collections. It is definitely epiphytic, producing aerial roots in profusion; it is sympodial and native to Central America. When the plant was originally found, it was thought that the male flower-producing plant and the female were two separate species. Green and yellow, predominate in the color scheme of the flowers.