This is a beautiful species with a raceme crowded with many yellow bell shaped flowers that do not open fully.  It is a most attractive species and is not uncommon in cultivation.  Its scape is 30 - 60 cm with between 20 - 35 flowers.  The flowers are bell shaped, lightly scented,  3 cm across and cream to pale yellow.

Culture

We grow and flower this species under shadecloth in Melbourne.  It flowers in May for us.

Habitat

On trees and rocks in damp, shady forest, sometimes on shaded rocks overhanging streams.

Distribution

Nepal, N E India (Sikkim, Dargeeling, Assam, Meghalaya, Naga Hills, Lushai Hills), Bhutan, N Burma (inc Chin Hills), S W China (Yunnan, Xizang).  1500 - 2500m

Synonyms and other names

C. longifolium, Cyperorchis elegans, C. densiflorum, Grammatophyllum elegans, C. elegans var. obcordatum, C. elegans var. lutescens, Arethusantha bletioides, Cyperorcis elegans var. blumei

Primary Hybrids

elegans x erythrostylum = Early Style
elegans x dayanum = Elsimon
elegans x devonianum = Cariad
elegans x giganteum (irioides) = Maggie Flower
elegans x erythraeum = Gammieanum
elegans x erythraeum = gammieanum
pumilum (floribundum) x elegans = Ides of March
tracyanum x elegans = Foster Alcock