Robust epiphyte or epilith. Pseudobulbs cylindricalal to spindle-shaped, to 50 cm long. Leaves 4?15, lanceolate, to 45 cm long, to 7 cm wide. Flowers 3-12, to 8 cm wide, white with yellow streaks; summer. Sepals similar, oblong to triangular. Petals smaller, spoon-shaped. Labellum with a callus of 5 fleshy hairy ridges. Syn. C. aurea Lindl. var. bractescens (Lindl.) Allen.

Mexico, C America.

C. aurea Lindl. is similar to C. bractescens but has smaller bracts on the flowering stem and slightly smaller flowers that are off-white to yellow in colour.

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.