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.
[Illustration: 1. Front view of lip and column; 2. Side view of ditto:
_magnified_.]
Plate 24
[Illustration: Odontoglossum Krameri.]
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
[Illustration: Odontoglossum cordatum.]
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
[Illustration: Odontoglossum angustatum.]
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
[Illustration: Odontoglossum coronarium.]
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
[Illustration: Odontoglossum blandum.]
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
[Illustration: Odontoglossum vexillarium.]
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.
The woodcut is copied from a photograph of a small specimen of _O.
vexillarium_, taken in New Grenada, in the act of flowering.
[Illustration]
Plate XXX
[Illustration: Odontoglossum Roezlii.]
PLATE XXX.
ODONTOGLOSSUM ROEZLII.
ROEZL'S ODONTOGLOSSUM.
O. (PHALÆNOPSIDEA) affine O. vexillario, pseudobulbis ovato-oblongis
ancipitibus compressis 1-2-phyllis, foliis lineari-ligulatis inferne
striatis pedunculis 1-3-floris longioribus; sepalis oblongo-ligulatis
acutis, petalis sublatioribus; labello a basi angustâ sagittatâ cuneato
flabellato obtuse bilobo; carinis ternis in imâ basi; prepositâ lamellâ
transversâ seu callis parvis geminis; columnâ apterâ.
ODONTOGLOSSUM ROEZLII, _Rchb. fil. Xenia Orchidacea_, ii.; _idem in Gard.
Chron._ p. 1302, (_cum Xylo_) 1873.
Habitat in N. GRENADA, _Roezl_; _Backhouse in Gard. Chron._ p. 1334,
(1873).
DESCRIPTION.
_A compact plant, of which the_ PSEUDOBULBS _are ovate-oblong, 1-2 inches
long and much compressed; these bear one or two bright green linear
acute_ LEAVES, _which are remarkable for their parallel streaks--nine in
number--on the under side, and are from six to ten inches long, and about
½ inch wide. The_ SCAPES _or_ PEDUNCLES _are shorter than the leaves, and
bear from one to three (possibly more) large and beautiful flowers, which
with the exception of some markings at the base of the petals and on the
lip are of snowy whiteness_. SEPALS _oblong-ligulate pointed at the
extremity, fully an inch long_. PETALS _rather wider than the sepals and
with a rich crimson blotch at their base_. LIP _wedge-shaped, expanding
from a narrow sagittate base into a broad two-lobed disk, an inch and a
half wide, white with some bright yellow markings near the foot and in
the region of the_ CREST; _the latter being formed by three slightly
raised "carinæ" or ridges near the base on either side, traversed by two
moderate sized calli placed in front_. COLUMN _wingless_.
This is a most charming _Odontoglossum_, allied to the preceding and to _O.
phalænopsis_, but perfectly distinct from either. Its bright green narrow
leaves--streaked like those of _Saccolabium Blumei_, at once distinguish
the plant, even when out of flower, from its fascinating rival _O.
vexillarium_; which always bears a glaucous hue, and which has larger and
broader foliage, and produces double the number of flowers on a scape. The
first rumours that reached us of the plant led to a suspicion that it
might, after all, be only a variety of _O. vexillarium_, but these unworthy
fears were at once dispelled by the flowering of the plant itself at Mr.
Bull's nursery in the early part of last September, when Mr. Fitch prepared
his drawing, and Professor Reichenbach obtained materials for the
description which appeared in the _Gardeners' Chronicle_ of September 27,
1873. The Professor has also given, in his _Xenia_, a characteristic
representation of the wild plant constructed from the specimens supplied to
him by its fortunate discoverer, Mr. Roezl; in whose honour the species is
very properly named. It is a native of New Grenada, and, like _O.
vexillarium_, appears to be exceedingly rare; we must not, therefore,
murmur if the precise locality--of which the knowledge is a fortune in
itself--should be for awhile withheld. But there would have been no harm in
telling us the approximate elevation of the native habitat, as the same is
always important as a clue to culture; especially in the case of plants
with a limited range. In this instance I apprehend that both _O. Roezlii_
and _O. vexillarium_ are not found at a _very_ high level and that
therefore--though happily entitled to rank among "cool" Orchids--they must
be placed in the warmer division of the "cool" Orchid-house.