Gongora is a member of the Orchid family. Many orchids bred in gardens are hybrids, including the Cleveland Botanical Garden's Gongora chocoensis x falviola. They are characterized by their limited distribution in the Neotropics, the fact that they are considered true epiphytes, and their complex pollination system by male solitary bees of the Euglossinae family only (a feature they share with the stanhopeas.)
The flower is non-resputinate, meaning that it grows with the lip of the flower on top, rather than on bottom. The strong scent from the flower attracts the male Euglossinae bees, which come into contact with the pollen as they attempt to reach the source of the scent within the flower. Each species produces a different scent, which attracts few or possibly one species of bee each.
This genus is a true epiphyte, meaning that it grows on other plants, but is not considered parasitic. They are often found growing on the trunks of tree trunks in tropical rainforests.
