Part 5

PSEUDOBULBS _ovate, 2 to 4 inches long, compressed, 2-edged, bearing generally one, occasionally two, lanceolate_ LEAVES, _a foot or more long_. RACEME _many (10-20) flowered, occasionally though rarely branched, 2 to 3 feet long_. SEPALS _and_ PETALS _nearly equal, ovate-lanceolate, exceedingly unguiculate, from an inch to (in some varieties) an inch and a half or even 2 inches long, yellow with large, often very dark, blotches of purplish-brown_. LIP _white, with a few rich spots, oblong-acuminate, jagged at the edges, with a large and handsome yellow_ CREST, _consisting of a multitude of flattened but sharp-pointed teeth, pointing sideways and downwards_. COLUMN _white, winged, the wings broken into teeth or cirrhi, of which the uppermost is much the largest_.

This fine _Odontoglossum_ was one of the earliest known though one of the latest to reach us alive. It is now (1873) plentiful enough, and forms a most attractive object in our spring Orchid-shows. There are many varieties differing greatly in the size and marking of their flowers, but all maintaining the unguiculate sepals and petals which chiefly distinguish it from _O. luteo-purpureum_ (Pl. 17), to which it is indeed very nearly allied. _O. Hallii_ is abundant in New Grenada and Peru, but is seldom met with at a lower elevation than 8000 feet, hence it is quite at home in the coolest part of the "cool Orchid-house," in which it grows and flowers very freely indeed.

In the woodcut, a solitary flower of a larger variety of the species is represented, natural size.

Plate 22

PLATE XXII.

ODONTOGLOSSUM ROSEUM.

ROSY ODONTOGLOSSUM.

O. pseudobulbis ovatis ancipitibus 1-phyllis, foliis oblongo-lanceolatis racemo gracili multifloro duplo brevioribus, bracteis ovatis concavis subangulatis pedicellis duplo brevioribus, sepalis petalisque lanceolatis, labello trilobo basi bilamellato: lobis lateralibus nanis rotundatis intermedio obcuneato acuto, columnâ elongatâ apice alis 3 membranaceis integris auctâ.

ODONTOGLOSSUM ROSEUM, _Lindl. in Bentham Plant. Hartweg_, p. 251. _Reichenbach fil. in Garden. Chron. April 20, 1867._

Habitat in PERU, _Backhouse_, Nuebrada de los Juntas, _Hartweg_.

DESCRIPTION.

PSEUDOBULBS _ovate, two-edged, much compressed, dark-coloured, from one to two inches long, carrying a short solitary oblong-lanceolate leaf_. LEAVES _very sharp-pointed linear-lanceolate, not half the length of the slender nodding graceful many-flowered_ RACEMES. BRACTS _ovate, slightly angular, much shorter than the_ PEDICELS. SEPALS _and_ PETALS _nearly equal, lanceolate, acuminate, linear, two-thirds of an inch long, of a beautiful bright rose colour_. LIP _about same length as the petals, pale whitish rose, three-lobed, bilamellate at the base, side-lobes rounded, very small, intermediate lobe sharp-pointed, obcuneate_. COLUMN _standing forward, rounded, provided at its apex with three membranous wings_.

A charming little species long known by the specimens in the Lindleyan Herbarium. It was introduced--though in very limited quantities--by the Messrs. Backhouse several years ago, since which time it has always continued scarce. In Lindley's Herbarium the racemes are about the length of those represented in the figure, but in a specimen exhibited in 1872 by Mr. Linden the pseudobulbs, leaves, and racemes were nearly twice as large and as long as those in the Plate. The precise treatment that it affects has not yet been distinctly ascertained, but there can be no doubt that, being a denizen of high places on the mountain ranges in Peru, it prefers the coldest house.

Plate 23

PLATE XXIII.

ODONTOGLOSSUM TRIUMPHANS.

SPLENDID ODONTOGLOSSUM.

O. (XANTHOGLOSSUM, _Lindl._) pseudobulbis ovatis 1-2-phyllis foliis lato lanceolatis acutis, basi attenuatis, racemo multifloro, bracteis triangularibus ovario pedicellato 4-5plo brevioribus, sepalis oblongo-acutis basi bene attenuatis, petalis subæqualibus latioribus, magis acuminatis, utrinque hinc illinc lobulatis, labello unguiculato basi bifalci, utrinque bicalloso laminâ panduratâ apiculatâ, columnæ alis rhombeis ascendentibus margine externo erosulis.

ODONTOGLOSSUM TRIUMPHANS, _Reichenbach fil. Bonpl._ ii. 99; _Walpers Annales_, vi. p. 831; _Pescatorea_, _t._ 46.

Habitat in N. GRENADA, _Warscewicz_. OCANA, 6000-8000 feet, _Schlim_, _Wagener_.

DESCRIPTION.

PSEUDOBULBS _ovate, very similar to those of_ O. Hallii, _bearing generally two stout sharp-pointed_ LEAVES _a foot or more long_. RACEME _many-(6-18) flowered, half a yard or 2 feet long, rather drooping_. BRACTS _small and triangular, 4 or 5 times shorter than the ovary_. SEPALS _1½ to 2 inches long, oblong-acute, narrowed at the base_. PETALS _about the same size as the sepals, but broader and more acuminate, sometimes diversely lobed on either side like the sepals, nearly covered with rich chestnut blotches on a bright yellow ground_. LIP _white with deep reddish blotches at apex, shorter than petals, unguiculate, pandurate, partially connate with the column, toothed at the edges, bicarinate at base, provided with_ CREST _consisting of two sets of falcate teeth, extending about one-third of its own length_. COLUMN _white, half the length of the lip, furnished with upright rhomb-like wings the edges of which are indented_.

This is a very fine species indeed, although it scarcely realizes the expectations excited by the figure in _Pescatorea_, whether as regards the size of the individual blossoms or their colour. In the fresh flowers the prevailing tone is a bright yellow, which serves as a foil to the rich brown or chestnut marking with which the sepals and petals are profusely covered, and which, though to a lesser degree, cover also the lip. But in _Pescatorea_ the lip is represented as white, and as bearing at its upper extremity a rich blotch of bright purple which affords a beautiful contrast to the yellow and brown tints of the other parts of the flower. Probably the figure referred to may have been prepared from dried specimens and hence the mistake as to the colouring.

There are many varieties of this species, some of the best of which were exhibited by Mr. Marshall of Enfield at a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society as early as April, 1869.

_O. triumphans_ does not appear to be so plentiful in its native habitats as _O. Hallii_, _O. luteo-purpureum_, and many other N. Grenada kinds that now swarm in our collections. The range of elevation within which it grows is nearly identical with that of _O. Hallii_, hence the same treatment is suitable to both. It is easily grown and flowers freely.

Plate 24

PLATE XXIV.

ODONTOGLOSSUM KRAMERI.

KRAMER'S ODONTOGLOSSUM.

O. pseudobulbis suborbicularibus valde compressis ancipitibus 1-phyllis, foliis oblongo-lanceolatis, scapis ascendentibus vel sub-pendulis foliis brevioribus pauci-(2-5) floris, sepalis petalisque oblongis acutis subæqualibus, labelli ungue 2-calloso laminâ subquadratâ 2-lobâ pallide-roseo-violaceâ plagâ basi utrinque semilunari albâ aureo et purpureo maculatâ.

ODONTOGLOSSUM KRAMERI, _Reichenbach fil. in Gard. Chron._ 1868, p. 98. _Floral Mag._ _t._ 406 (_sub O. Krameri_). _Hooker in Bot. Mag._ _t._ 5778.

Habitat in COSTA-RICA.

DESCRIPTION.

PSEUDOBULBS _nearly round, flattened, 2-edged, 1-leaved_; LEAVES _oblong-lanceolate, leas than a foot long, by about an inch wide, longer than the_ SCAPES _which bear from 2 to 5 flowers_. PEDUNCLES _with the ovary one to one and a half inches long_. FLOWERS _one to one and a half inches in diameter_. SEPALS _and_ PETALS _subequal oblong-acute, pale violet-red in the centre with broad white margins_. LIP _one-third of an inch wide, neck short, broad, deeply hollowed in front with two erect calli; limb subquadrate, two-lobed at the apex, angles rounded, the basal lateral lobes small, reflexed, pale violet-red with two confluent semilunar white patches at the base, on each of which is a concentric red-brown band, and a few spots of the same colour on a golden yellow ground_. COLUMN _short, thick, without wings or appendages_. (Hooker, l. c.)

This though not a striking is a very distinct plant. It is a native of Costa-Rica, where it seems to be plentiful enough though it long eluded detection. It was first exhibited in 1868 by Mr. Veitch at one of the shows at S. Kensington, but appeared almost simultaneously in the collection of Mr. Day, by whose direction a careful drawing was prepared. Like other Costa-Rica plants, though not requiring a high temperature, it is scarcely content with the small amount of heat that is now allotted to the great majority of cool Orchids. Its proper place would be in the Mexican House. It is a free bloomer.

Plate 25

PLATE XXV.

ODONTOGLOSSUM CORDATUM.

HEART-LIPPED ODONTOGLOSSUM.

O. (EUODONTOGLOSSUM) pseudobulbis oblongis compressis monophyllis, foliis lato-oblongis planis acutis scapo squamis carinatis vaginato brevioribus, racemo simplici vel paniculato, bracteis navicularibus acuminatis membranaceis, ovario multo brevioribus, sepalis petalisque lineari-lanceolatis acuminatissimis, labello cordato acuminatissimo integerrimo, appendice unguis carnosâ apice bilobâ basi utrinque dente unico auctâ, columnâ pubescente clavatâ subapterâ.

ODONTOGLOSSUM CORDATUM, _Lindl. in Bot. Reg._, 1838, _misc._ 90; _Knowles and Westcott_, _Floral Cabinet_, _t._ 100; _Paxton's Mag._, xiii. 147; _Regel. Garten-flora_, 1862, 356; _Pescatorea_, i. 26.

Habitat in MEXICO, _Barker_. GUATEMALA, _Hartweg_, _Skinner_.

DESCRIPTION.

PSEUDOBULBS _oblong, very much compressed and very sharp at the edges, 1½ to 2 inches long_. LEAVES _one (rarely if ever two) on each pseudobulb and broadly-oblong acute shorter than the scape_. SCAPE _and_ RACEME _sheathed at intervals with long keel-shaped membranaceous_ BRACTS, _few or many flowered, simple or (more rarely) branched, from one to two feet high_. SEPALS _and_ PETALS _nearly equal, linear-lanceolate, extremely acuminate, an inch or more long, greenish-yellow richly blotched with brown_. LIP _shorter than the sepals heart-shaped, with a very acuminate slightly recurved apex, white with dark brown spots and a purplish 2-lobed callus at the base_. COLUMN _pubescent, club-shaped, almost wingless_.

Though scarcely to be classed among the more attractive species, _O. cordatum_ is occasionally seen at our Shows with branching scapes 2 feet high and flowers much more richly coloured than those in the Plate. It is found both in Mexico and Guatemala (whence plants were sent to me by my lamented friend Skinner), but always at high elevations.

It flowers in the early summer without any special treatment, except that it is perhaps more impatient of water than some of its congeners.

Plate XXVI

PLATE XXVI.

ODONTOGLOSSUM ANGUSTATUM.

NARROW-PETALLED ODONTOGLOSSUM.

O. (ISANTHIUM) pseudobulbis ovato-oblongis compressis, foliis longis lato-lanceolatis erectis acutis paniculâ ramosâ elatâ brevioribus, bracteis carinatis acutis ovario multò brevioribus, sepalis petalisque subæqualibus undulatis unguiculatis, labello ovato-lanceolato acuminato reflexo, cristæ lamellis lateralibus membranaceis trifidis, digitis anterioribus majoribus, callo obtuso interposito, columnâ apterâ.

ODONTOGLOSSUM ANGUSTATUM, _Lindl. in Bot. Reg._ _sub_ t. 1992, _Folia Orchid._, 48; _Rchb. fil._; _Walper's Annales_, vi. p. 841.

Habitat in PERU, (alt. 8000 ft.,) _Hall_, _Hartweg_, _Linden_.

DESCRIPTION.

_A very stately plant._ PSEUDOBULBS _ovate-oblong compressed, 2 or 3 inches long, 1 (or ? 2) leaved_. LEAVES _one to one and a half feet long, linear-lanceolate acute, shorter than the upright branching zigzag many-flowered_ PANICLES. BRACTS _keeled, acute, much shorter than the ovaries_. SEPALS _and_ PETALS _nearly equal, unguiculate, acuminate, undulated, white with beautiful purple spots on their lower portions_. LIP _white, or nearly so, shorter than the petals, ovate-lanceolate, the apex acuminate and exceedingly recurved, having at its sides two membranous lamellæ, divided into three unequal parts, those in front the larger and projecting forwards like horns or fingers with a blunt callus lying between them_. COLUMN _not half the length of the lip, and destitute of wings_.

This is a very distinct species, as remarkable among _Odontoglossa_ with its white and purple flowers, as is _Oncidium incurvum_, with blossoms of similar hues, among the innumerable members of that still more extensive genus. Although originally discovered by Colonel Hall more than a quarter of a century ago, no genuine plants--there have been impostors in plenty--seem to have reached Europe alive before the year 1871, when it was introduced by M. Linden; by whom also, in the following spring, flowering specimens were exhibited at South Kensington and universally admired. According to Lindley, the species is nearly allied to his _O. ramosissimum_, from which, indeed, he at one time failed to distinguish it. M. Linden's plant, which is faithfully rendered in Mr. Fitch's drawing, does not exactly answer to the descriptions in the Folia Orchidacea either of _O. angustatum_ or _O. ramosissimum_, but is apparently a connecting link between the two, whence I infer the probability that both the above supposed species will eventually be found to be one and the same.

The plant is still exceedingly scarce, and as it is indistinguishable in habit from many other _Odontoglossa_ derived from the same rich country (Peru), I would warn cultivators against purchasing any specimens that have not actually proved themselves to be true. It belongs to the cooler sections of its race, and must be treated accordingly.

Plate XXVII

PLATE XXVII.

ODONTOGLOSSUM CORONARIUM.

ROYAL ODONTOGLOSSUM.

O. (TRYMENIUM) rhizomate caulescente, pseudobulbis brunneis ovalibus compressis monophyllis, foliis rigidis coriaceis basi canaliculatis acutis racemo multifloro dense racemoso subæqualibus vel longioribus, bracteis linearibus canaliculatis ovario triplô brevioribus, sepalis petalisque subrotundis unguiculatis planis margine crispis, labello longê cuneato retuso basi auriculis unidentatis subfalcatis obtusis subtus in unam connatis acuto, inter auriculas tuberculis duobus hoc didymo illo inferiore simplici; clinandrio subserrato lobis rotundatis (_Lindl._)

ODONTOGLOSSUM CORONARIUM, _Lindl. Folia Orchid._; _Linden_, _Pescatorea_, t. 47.

Habitat in N. GRENADA, _propè_ La Baja, Pamplona, (alt. 7000 ft.,) _Schlim_.

DESCRIPTION.

_A stout and rigid plant._ PSEUDOBULBS _oval, compressed, 3 or more inches long, of a brownish hue, placed at intervals on a stiff caulescent_ RHIZOME. LEAVES _one on each pseudobulb, leathery, sharp-pointed, channelled near the base, a foot or more long, equal to or longer than the flower-scapes_. BRACTS _linear channelled, only one third the length of the ovary_. RACEMES _about a foot high, upright, bearing from a dozen to twenty flowers in a dense mass_. SEPALS _and_ PETALS _equal, subrotund, unguiculate, smooth, with their margins crisp or curled, about an inch long, of a rich reddish coppery brown on the upper surface, shining as if they had been varnished, yellowish underneath_. LIP _yellow, retuse, about same length as the petals, obovate, rounded at apex, narrowed and wedge-shaped at the base, where the sides arrange themselves into two narrow blunt falcate horns which are united on the under side_. CREST _consisting of three processes_. COLUMN _slightly curved with two truncate rounded wings_.

This species has been long known, but it was slow in making its appearance, and slow likewise in flowering after it had reached us. During the last four years both Messrs. Veitch and M. Linden have succeeded in importing it alive, but it has only produced flowers in two or three instances; the finest specimens I have seen being those exhibited by Lord Londesborough during the present spring (1874). Even in its native country it seems to be a shy flowerer. As it is never met with lower than 7000 feet on the mountains of Pamplona, it of course requires a cooler treatment than many of its congeners which affect a lower level. The shining surface of the sepals and petals is very remarkable, and has the appearance of being due to a coat of the best varnish. Another species, _O. brevifolium_, found in lofty mountains in Peru, is closely allied to this, if indeed, which I greatly doubt, it be anything more than a very high-level variety of it.

Plate XXVIII

PLATE XXVIII.

ODONTOGLOSSUM BLANDUM.

PLEASANT ODONTOGLOSSUM.

O. (EUODONTOGLOSSUM) pseudobulbis ovatis 1-2-phyllis, foliis lineari-lanceolatis acutis racemis multifloris subæqualibus, sepalis petalisque cuneato-lanceis acuminatis; labelli ungue bilamellato, lamellis oblongis antice obtusangulis, laminâ ab ungue cuneato velutino ampliato ovatâ acuminatâ crispulâ, cornubus brevibus geminis ante lamellas, antepositis falcibus geminis, tumore parvo interjecto; cirrhis columnæ basi angulatæ bifidis setaceis.

ODONTOGLOSSUM BLANDUM, _Rchb. fil. in Gardeners' Chronicle_, p. 1342 (1872).

Habitat in OCAÑA, _Blunt_, _Roezl_.

DESCRIPTION.

PLANT _about a span across, in a compact mass_.

PSEUDOBULBS _ovate, somewhat compressed, about an inch long, bearing 1 (rarely 2) narrow lanceolate_ LEAVES _of about the same length as the slender nodding many-flowered_ RACEMES. _The_ FLOWERS, _of which there are from six to twelve (or more) crowded together on the racemes, are all expanded at the same time, and emit a pleasant honey-like smell_. SEPALS _and_ PETALS _nearly equal, less than an inch long, lanceolate, acuminate, of a creamy white sprinkled over with numerous crimson dots_. LIP _about the same length as the sepals, and of the same hue, but destitute of spots except at the apex, the central portion bearing a large crimson mark nearly in the form of the letter_ W; _the lip's base is formed of two parallel blunt lamellæ out of which springs the main limb which is broadly ovate, curled and jagged at the edges and recurved and acuminate at its extremity; at the point of junction with the unguis or claw occur two horned falcate processes, between which a small tumour is interposed, at foot of which are two short and blunt horns_. COLUMN _short, bifid, angular with three or four straggling cirrhi or filaments on either side_.

This pretty little _Odontoglossum_ comes from Ocaña, where it was first discovered by Mr. Low's collector many years ago. At that time none of the plants reached England alive, but some dried specimens that found their way to Professor Reichenbach, enabled the great German Orchidist to name and describe the species; which turns out to be nearly allied to _O. nævium_. It has been met with by M. Roezl and other collectors, but is still a rare plant, as its constitution is apt to succumb under a long journey by sea and land. The specimens from which Mr. Fitch prepared his drawing, flowered in the spring of 1871, in the collection of the Royal Horticultural Society;--the plants having been purchased at one of Stevens' sales, among a "miscellaneous lot" of doubtful things. The species is a free-flowerer, and sends out an agreeable honey-like odour, but in point of beauty is scarcely a rival for _O. nævium_. It seems to require rather more heat than the latter species, which is one of the coolest of cool Orchids.

Plate XXIX

PLATE XXIX.

ODONTOGLOSSUM VEXILLARIUM.

BROAD-LIPPED ODONTOGLOSSUM.

O. (PHALÆNOPSIDEA) pseudobulbis ovato-oblongis compressis 1-2-phyllis; foliis pedalibus subglaucescentibus carinatis lanceolatis acutis pedunculis gracilibus 2-6-floris subæqualibus; bracteis triangulis minutis; floribus maximis roseo suffusis; sepalis oblongo-ligulatis apiculatis; petalis conformibus vel paulò latioribus subacutis vel obtusis; labello maximio flabellato orbiculari bilobo, in unguem brevem hastatum contracto, carinis quinis abruptis in basi; columnâ brevissimâ exalatâ.

ODONTOGLOSSUM VEXILLARIUM, _Rchb. fil. in Gard. Chron._ 1867, 901; _ibid._ 1872, p. 667, _cum Xylo_; 1873, p. 580, 644, _cum Xylo_, 885; _Hooker in Bot. Mag._ t. 6037; _Illustration Horticole_, 1873, Pl. cxiii.

Habitat in N. GRENADA, _Bowman_, _Wallis_, _Roezl_, _Chesterton_.

DESCRIPTION.

PSEUDOBULBS _flattened, ovate-oblong, an inch or inch and a half long, bearing one or two keeled sharp-ended lanceolate_ LEAVES _from six inches to a foot long, by an inch or more wide, with a glaucous tint, especially on their upper surface_. SCAPES _slender, nodding, about the same length as the leaves, two to six-flowered, clasped at intervals by small triangular_ BRACTS. FLOWERS _flat, the largest in the genus, tinted more or less deeply with lovely rose_. SEPALS _and_ PETALS _somewhat variable in their relative forms, in most cases nearly the same size, oblong or obovate apiculate or obtuse, about an inch long, the former nearly white, the latter of the same hue as the lip_. LIP _generally of a rich rosy tint, expanding from a narrow sagittate claw into a round and ample, 2-lobed disk, more than double the size of the petals, with five dwarf calli and some yellow streaks at its base_. COLUMN _very short with rarely a trace of wings_.

This is the handsomest of known _Odontoglossa_. In the year 1867 Mr. Low showed me a solitary flower, which had been sent to him by his collector (Bowman, I believe), but a discreet silence was observed as to the locality where the prodigy had been found, nor, alas, did living plants ever make their way to the Clapton Nursery. Subsequently the species was met with by Wallis--when collecting for Mr. Linden--and later still by Roezl; but although in each case a large number of specimens were packed up and despatched to Europe, they either died on the passage, or shortly after their arrival. Indeed, cultivators were almost beginning to despair, when, early in the spring of last year (1873), the arrival was announced of a small cargo of the beauteous novelty in most excellent condition at the establishment of Messrs. Veitch; to whom it had been forwarded by Mr. Henry Chesterton. Once safe in the Chelsea collection, it did not put the patience of Orchid-growers to any severe strain, for within little more than three months of its arrival vigorous flower-spikes were produced, and the plant itself exhibited--both in Regent's Park and at South Kensington--to the envy and admiration of all beholders. It seems to be very easy to manage, and produces its flower-scapes with the utmost profusion. Like all its congeners, it must be relegated to the cool Orchid-house, though probably it will be found to prefer the warmest end.

Professor Reichenbach has written several articles in the _Gardeners' Chronicle_ about this plant, in one of which he deplores, and most justly, the wanton waste and havoc committed by collectors; who, instead of contenting themselves with a moderate number of specimens, gather them by hundreds, or even by thousands, thus imperilling the very existence of species which, like the present, are believed to possess only a very restricted habitat. Nor does this recklessness often benefit their employers, for in most cases, the larger the consignment, the smaller the chance of its prospering on its way.