Coelia bella (Lem.) Rchb. f. 1861 Photo by © Eric Hunt and his Orchid Species Photo Website

Plant and Flowers Photo courtesy of David Banks Australia copyrighted ©

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Common Name or Meaning The Beautiful Coelia

Flower Size More than 2" [more than 5 cm]

This medium to large sized, terrestrial and occasional epiphytic species with clustered, ellipsoid to ovoid, olive green psuedobulbs with up to 5 apical, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate, plicate, glossy green leaves that is found in Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala in rainforests at elevations of 500 to 1500 meters where it grows cool to hot and blooms in the summer on an erect, basal, 6" [15 cm] long, bracteate, racemose inflorescence with up to 6 scented flowers that arises from the side of a new psuedobulb. They require moderate shade, and increasing water as the new growth arrives in the spring and a lessening in the winter months.

Synonyms Bifrenaria bella Lem. 1852-3; *Bothriochilus bellus Lem. 1856

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Icones Orchidacearum 5 & 6 Orchids Of Mexico Parts 2 & 3 Plate 541 Hagsater, Soto 2002; Vanishing Beauty; Native Costa Rican Orchids Vol 1 Pupulin 2005

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