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{{SPlantbox
{{SPlantbox
|genus= Gongora
|familia=Orchidaceae
|habit=shrub
|genus=Gongora
|habit=orchid
|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
|habit_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
|lifespan=perennial
|Temp Metric=°F
|Temp Metric=°F
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Gongora-armeniaca1.jpg
|image_width=200
| image = Gongora-armeniaca1.jpg
| image_width = 200px <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
}}
}}
'''''Gongora''''', abbreviated '''Gga''' in horticultural trade, is a member of the [[Orchid]] family ([[Orchidaceae]]). It consists of 65 species known from [[Central America]], [[Trinidad]], and tropical [[South America]], with most species found in [[Colombia]]. They grow in wide geographical range from wet forests at sea level to mountainous regions in the [[Andes]], as high as 1,800 m.
The name comes from [[Antonio Caballero y Gongora]], a [[viceroy of New Granada]] ([[Colombia]] and [[Ecuador]]) and the governor of Peru during the [[Hipólito Ruiz López|Ruiz]] and [[José Antonio Pavón Jiménez|Pavón]] botanical expedition.
''Gongora'' was one of the first orchids described by a western man. Several new ''Gongora'' orchids have been discovered in the last ten years, while many others have been assigned under another specific name. Yet there is still some confusion. Many species lack the right description. Some species, such as ''Gongora portentosa'' and ''Gongora superflua'', are very rare. [[DNA]] fingerprinting will in time contribute to an exact taxonomy of this genus.
All species in this genus are [[epiphyte]]s with a [[sympodial]] growth. The white aerial [[root]]s are very thin, growing in a dense pack. Some roots even grow upright instead of hanging down. This specialisation helps in forming the ball of aerial roots. Many are found in association with ant nests.
The conical [[pseudobulb]]s are ridged and are about 8 cm long. In some species, such as ''Gongora similis'', the pseudobulb can produce up to six inflorescences in succession. Two alternate [[Leaf|leaves]] originate from the end of each pseudobulb. The leaves are rather leathery and heavily veined, growing to a length of about 30 cm.
The [[raceme|racemose]] [[inflorescence]] grows from the base of the pseudobulbs. The stem first grows upright, but bends early in development and becomes pendulous. The numerous [[flower]]s hang upside down, with the [[labellum|lip]] upwards. The almost circularly bent [[Pedicel (botany)|pedicel]]s are characteristic of this genus. There are two lateral sepals and one dorsal sepal. The blooms of several species are waxy. The flowers of many species have distinctive fragrances. Some smell like unburned candle wax, others like nutmeg, cardamom, or cinnamon. The [[pollinium|pollinia]] are superposed on a stipe (a cellular pollinium stalk), which is held by a viscid disc.
The genus is closely related to ''[[Cirrhaea]]''. For other relatives see also ''[[Stanhopeinae]]'' & ''[[Coeliopsidinae]]''.
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Gongora (after Don Antonio Caballero y Gongora, Bishop of Cordova). Includes Acropera. Orchidaceae, tribe Vandae, subtribe Cyrtopbdieae. A small group of plants with curious spotted flowers, not common in cultivation, and of little value except for collections.
Gongora (after Don Antonio Caballero y Gongora, Bishop of Cordova). Includes Acropera. Orchidaceae, tribe Vandae, subtribe Cyrtopbdieae. A small group of plants with curious spotted flowers, not common in cultivation, and of little value except for collections.
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