Robust epiphyte or epilith. Pseudobulbs cylindrical to club-shaped, to 30 cm long, narrowing below. Leaves 2, elliptic to oblong, to 12 cm long, to 5 cm wide. Flowers 2-5, to 11 cm wide; autumn to spring. Sepals and petals similar, elliptic, spreading, pink, lilac or purplish. Labellum almost round, 3-lobed, pinkish with yellow markings.

Brazil and Paraguay.

C. forbesii Lindl. &Rchb. f. from Brazil, is a medium sized epiphyte or epilith with compressed-cylindrical 2-leaved pseudobulbs and flowers to 11 cm wide with olive-green to pale bronze sepals and petals and 3-lobed labellum with a yellow red-striped throat.

C. harrisoniana Lindl. from Brazil, is a robust epiphyte with cylindrical 2-leaved pseudobulbs and flowers to 11 cm wide with pink to lavender sepals and petals and similar coloured labellum with a yellow or orange throat. Syn. C. loddigesii var. harrisoniana (Lindl.) Veitch.

Source: Jeanes, J. (2005). Orchidaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.