Coelogyne veitchii Rolfe, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew (1895) 282
Type: Veitch cult. (Burke) s.n. (VIII-1894, W. New Guinea) (holo K)
Rhizome stout, short. Pseudobulbs fusiform-oblong to conical-ovoid, angular, to 9 by 1.7 cm when dry, base sheathed with long cataphylls that soon wither away, 2-leaved. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, petiolate, 16-40 by 3.5-6 cm, acuminate, with 5 prominent nerves, petiole 4 cm long, grooved. Inflorescence heteranthous, pendulous, peduncle 6.3 cm long, rachis almost straight, 32.5-68 cm long, laxly many-flowered. Floral bracts persistent. Flowers small for the genus, opening simultaneously, not scented. Median sepal ovate, 1.8 by 0.7 cm, acuminate, 5-nerved. Lateral sepals ovate, 1.8 by 0.7 cm, acute, 3-nerved. Petals linear, 1.8 by 0.2 cm, acute. Lip obscurely 3-lobed, 0.8 by 0.65 cm, without distinct keels or calli; lateral lobes erect, oblong, front margins erose, apices rounded; mid-lobe triangular-trapeziform, margins undulate, erose, tip reflexed, apiculate. Column slender, straight, 1 cm long, dilated at the apex into a hood with acute wings, margin erose. (After Clayton, 2002).
Colours: Flower pure white or creamy white, anther when young creamy white, soon becoming dark purplish brown.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest in shaded positions. Altitude 600-1700 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, April, September.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea), Solomon Islands.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); Papua New Guinea. See map: 163-380M.JPG
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, keep in shade.