Coeliopsidinae is a subtribe of plants in the Orchid family. The three members of this subtribe have traditionally been lumped in with Stanhopeinae, but obvious morphological traits and new molecular analysis by Whitten et al. in 2000 confirmed the group reclassified by Szlachetko (1995).

These genera have smooth, unribbed, ovoid pseudobulb

Pseudobulb

The pseudobulb is a storage organ derived from the part of a stem between two leaf nodes.It applies to the orchid family , specifically certain groups of epiphytic orchids, and may be single or composed of several internodes with evergreen or deciduous leaves along its length.In some species, it is...

s with 3-4 large and thin plicate leaves. The inflorescences are thick and bear globose flowers with thick, fleshy sepal

Sepal

A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...

s and petal

Petal

Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...

s, presence of a column foot and mentum. Roots have prominent root hairs.

Most distinct is the viscidia that are button-shaped and sclerified with short stipes. The three genera all have elongated Maxillaria-type dust seeds and not Stanhopea-type balloon seeds.

Like Stanhopeinae the members of this group are pollinated by male euglossine

Euglossini

Euglossine bees, also called orchid bees, are the only group of corbiculate bees whose non-parasitic members do not all possess eusocial behavior. Most of the species are solitary, though a few are communal, or exhibit simple forms of eusociality...

 bees. The sticky viscidia of this group are adapted to attachment on the smooth surface of the scutum

Scutum

Scutum is a small constellation introduced in the seventeenth century. Its name is Latin for shield.-History:Scutum is the only constellation that owes its name to a non-classical historical figure...

 of the male bees. (Peristeria elata, the pollinia attaches to the bee's head; in Coeliopsis, on the frons of the bee's head; Williams, 1982.)

Stanhopeinae

Stanhopeinae

Stanhopeinae is a subtribe of plants in the Orchid family.The subtribe in the strict sense, have viscidia and stipes that are thin and strap-like, they are adapted for attachment to edge of the bee's scutellum or to a leg. Pseudobulbs are usually ribbed/four-angled or flattened. Leaves are...

and Coeliopsidinae are now considered closely related sister subtribes.