Coelogyne is a genus of 594 species,[2] which are sympodial epiphytes from the family Orchidaceae, distributed across India, China, Indonesia and the Fiji islands, with the main centers in Borneo, Sumatra and the Himalayas.

Coelogyne are mostly epithytic, sympodial, pseudobulbous,[3] rhizomatous herbs with pendulous or creeping rhizomes[4] and thin roots.

[5] This genus lacks the saccate base of the labellum, a typical characteristic which is present in the other genera in the subtribe Coelogyninae.

The free lip has high lateral lobes along the basal part of the labellum (hypochile) and smooth, toothed or warty keels.

The typical colour range of this genus is white, through tawny brown to green, and occasionally peachy tones.

[citation needed] They have often a sweet scent, attracting different kinds of pollinators, such as bees, wasps and beetles.

The orchids in this genus require a decided rest period during winter in which they receive no feed, very little water (enough to prevent pseudobulbs shrivelling), cool to cold temperatures and high light.