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Plate XV.
ODONTOGLOSSUM REICHENHEIMII
M. REICHENHEIM'S ODONTOGLOSSUM
O. (Isanthium, Lindl.) pseudobulbis oblongis aggregatis diphyllis vix sulcatis, foliis oblongo-lanceolatis acutis scapo maculato laxe paniculato 3-plo brevioribus, bracteis brevibus membranaceis, sepalis petalisque subæqualibus oblongo-lanceolatis apiculatis, labello oblongo basi cordato apice obtusato lobulato, callo tumido utrinque ante basin, carinâ geminâ in imâ basi.
Odontoglossum Reichenheimii, Reichenbach fil. in Bonpl. iii. 214; idem in Pescatorea, sub t. 19; Walpers, Annales, vi. fasc. 6. Lemaire in Illustr. Hortic. pl. 213.
Habitat in Mexico, Ghiesbreght.
DESCRIPTION
An epiphyte. Pseudobulbs oblong, slightly furrowed, from 2 to 4 inches long, clustered together. Leaves 2 on each pseudobulb, shining and leathery, oblong-lanceolate, pointed, about a foot long, much shorter than the scape. Scape upright or nodding, from 2 feet to a yard high, spotted, loosely panicled, bearing from 10 to sometimes probably 50 flowers. Bracts few, short, and membranous, fitting close to the stem. Sepals and Petals nearly equal, oblong-lanceolate, apiculate, about an inch long, greenish-yellow, barred with dark purplish-brown. Lip purple in some varieties, in others white, with a horseshoe-shaped band of purple on its disk, oblong, rather blunt, and slightly lobed at the apex, somewhat heart-shaped at the base, where there is a callosity on either side, and a double carina. Column very slightly winged.
This pretty species is well figured in 'Pescatorea,' where it is stated to be a native of Mexico, whence it was introduced by M. Linden, of Brussels. It was from his establishment that I derived the plant that is represented on the other side, and which flowered at Knypersley in May last (1865). It appears to be very easily managed, requiring the same temperature and treatment as O. læve, to which it is nearly allied, and which forms the subject of the following Plate. It is also very closely related to O. Karwinskii; and I do not feel certain that the two may not eventually have to be united. At present, however, so few plants of either kind exist in the collections of this country, that the materials necessary for an extensive comparison are not forthcoming.
The specific name was given by Professor Reichenbach in honour of M. Reichenheim, of Berlin, whose collection of Orchids and other plants has long been celebrated.
Dissections. – 1. Side view (magnified) of lip and column; 2. Front view of ditto.
Plate XVI.
ODONTOGLOSSUM LÆVE
SMOOTH-LIPPED ODONTOGLOSSUM
O. (Isanthium) pseudobulbis subcompressis sulcatis diphyllis, foliis oblongo-ensiformibus obtuse acutis apice obliquis, scapis multifloris brevioribus, floribus laxe racemoso-paniculatis, bracteis brevibus membranaceis, sepalis petalisque oblongo-linearibus acutis planis, labelli limbo panduriformi apiculato ungui lævi obsoletissime bidentato, columnæ alis apice rotundatis crispis basi planis. Lindl.
Odontoglossum læve, Lindl. in Bot. Reg. (1844), t. 39; L. Fol. Orch. n. 52.
Habitat in Guatemala, Skinner.
DESCRIPTION
Pseudobulbs from 3 to 5 inches long, ovate, subcompressed, furrowed, 2-leaved. Leaves sword-shaped, obtuse, or obtusely-acute, sometimes slightly oblique at their extremities, a foot or more long, shorter than the many-flowered flower-stems. Flower-stems loosely branched, 2 to 3 feet long, rather drooping, bearing from 20 to (sometimes) 100 Flowers. Bracts from half an inch to an inch long, sharp-pointed, clipping tightly hold of the stem. Sepals and Petals nearly equal, oblong-linear, acute, plane at the edges, usually about an inch long, light green, transversely banded with brown. Lip with a fiddle-shaped, apiculate limb doubled back on its unguis or claw, white, changing into purple at its base, where it is sometimes very obscurely bidentate. Wings of Column crisp at the edges, plane at the base.
This is not one of the most attractive species, but its stately appearance, the profuseness with which its flowers are produced and their pleasant aroma, will secure it a place in most collections. It is common in Guatemala, where Mr. Skinner originally discovered it, and it probably extends as far as Mexico, where the nearly allied species (O. Reichenheimii), figured in the preceding Plate, is found. As it is only met with at a great elevation, it must be treated as a very "cool" Orchid, under which régime it will flower abundantly in the spring months. The chief danger to be guarded against is that of its exhausting itself – like many species of Phalænopsis– by over-much flowering, and to prevent which it is of course only necessary to break off some of the scapes.
Dissections. – 1. Lip, seen in front; 2. Lip and column, seen sideways: magnified.
Plate XVII.
ODONTOGLOSSUM LUTEO-PURPUREUM
YELLOW AND BROWN ODONTOGLOSSUM
O. (Euodontoglossum) pseudobulbis ovatis subcompressis diphyllis, foliis ensiformibus racemis multifloris nutantibus subæqualibus, bracteis ovatis acutis squamæformibus, pedicellis internodiis æquantibus, sepalis petalisque subæqualibus oblongo-lanceolatis acuminatis, labelli breviter unguiculati lateribus planis, limbo subpanduriformi antice lacero-serrulato, cristâ ad basin multidigitatâ, columnæ petalis triplo brevioris vix arcuatæ alis multifidis crinitis.
Odontoglossum luteo-purpureum, Lindl. Orch. Linden. n. 85; Fol. Orch. n. 7.
Odontoglossum radiatum, Rchb. Gard. Chron. (1864, New Plants, n. 307.)
Odontoglossom hystrix, Bateman in Gard. Chron. 1864, New Plants, n. 282.
Habitat in N. Granada, prope Quindiu, alt. 8000 p., Linden; prope Santa Fé de Bogotá, Weir, Blunt.
DESCRIPTION
Pseudobulbs about 3 or 4 inches long, somewhat compressed, ovale, 2-leaved. Leaves sword-shaped, sharp-pointed, a foot or more long, about the same length as the many-flowered nodding Racemes. Bracts ovate, acute, scaly. Pedicels equalling in length the average spaces between the Flowers. Sepals and Petals nearly equal, oblong-lanceolate (the petals sometimes unguiculate), acuminate, of a rich chocolate-brown inside, with edges and tips of a greenish-yellow. Lip with a very short claw, fiddle-shaped, at its side-edges plane, its centre-lobe minutely serrate and apiculate, with a multitude of finger-like processes (varying in different individuals) seated on the claw, and with their bristles all more or less inclining forwards. The upper portion of the lip is white, with a brown base, which again is banded with white beneath the series of bristles, which are of a rich golden-yellow. Column only one-third the length of the petals, slightly arched, with lacerated, hairy wings nearly concealing the anther.
The vicissitudes which the name of this species has had to undergo within the last three years are full of instruction both to botanists and the public. It was first described by Lindley from wild specimens gathered by Linden in the neighbourhood of Quindiu. Mr. Weir was the next to meet with it, and he succeeded in sending to the Horticultural Society several living plants that had been obtained about 100 miles to the south of Bogotá. He also sent wild specimens in admirable condition which, not agreeing with Lindley's description, and being profusely furnished both at the base of the lip and in the apex of the column with long bristle-like appendages, led to my calling it O. hystrix (i. e. the Porcupine Odontoglossum). Messrs. Low also received the plant, through their collector Mr. Blunt, from the same locality as that where Weir met with it, and one of their plants produced flowers which – neither agreeing with Lindley's O. luteo-purpureum nor with my O. hystrix– received from Professor Reichenbach the name of O. radiatum. Subsequently many specimens flowered, no two of which were alike, though they all maintained a sort of distant family resemblance to O. luteo-purpureum of which – as the Professor himself was the first to point out – there can now be no doubt that they are all varieties.
The figure is taken from a plant that flowered in Mr. Day's collection in the autumn of 1865, the flowers of which were twice the size of those of a plant that flowered with me, – but still larger varieties have since appeared in the collections of Lord Egerton of Tatton and Mr. Wentworth Buller.
The species, being found at an elevation of 8000 feet or more, requires very "cool" treatment, and should be referred to what – for reasons stated under Plate XX. – I propose to call the "Peruvian house." In this it is very easily grown, and flowers freely.
The markings in the dried specimens being much deeper than in the fresh flowers, led Dr. Lindley to give it a name (O. luteo-purpureum) which is scarcely applicable to any variety that has yet appeared, – no purple tints having been observed.
Dissections. – 1. Front view of lip and column; 2. Side view of ditto: magnified.
Plate XVIII.
ODONTOGLOSSUM BICTONIENSE
THE BICTON ODONTOGLOSSUM
(VARIETY WITH LEAFY FLOWER-STEMS.)
O. (Leucoglossum) pseudobulbis oblongis compressis 2-3-phyllis, foliis ensiformibus undulatis patentibus scapo racemoso duplo brevioribus, bracteis herbaceis lanceolatis acuminatis ovario duplo brevioribus, sepalis petalisque subæqualibus lineari-lanceolatis maculatis, labelli ungue bilamellato limbo cordato acuminato undulato, columnæ alis transverse oblongis integris.
Cyrtochilum Bictoniense, Bateman, Orch. Mex. et Gua. t. 6.
Zygopetalum Africanum, Bot. Mag. t. 3812.
Habitat in Guatemala, Skinner; circa 6-7000 ped. alt.
DESCRIPTION
Pseudobulbs oblong, 3 to 6 inches long, somewhat compressed, bearing 2 or 3 Leaves, which are sword-shaped, spread open, much shorter than the upright purple many-flowered Scape. The latter, in its normal state, is unbranched, and destitute of leaves, but in the variety represented in the Plate has numerous branches, and is leafy at the extremities. Bracts herbaceous, lanceolate, acuminate, not half the length of the ovary. Sepals and Petals nearly equal, linear-lanceolate, light-green spotted, or banded with brown. Lip with a bilamellate claw and a heart-shaped, acuminate limb, waved at the margin. In most cases the lip is white or nearly so, in others it has more or less of a rosy or purplish tint. Column-wings transversely oblong, entire.
The Plate represents a remarkable state of this now well-known plant, which I have observed only in the collection of Mr. Aspinall Turner, of Pendlebury House, near Manchester. In its normal or ordinary condition O. Bictoniense produces – in the winter months – simple, upright flower-stems, but in Mr. Turner's plant the stems are branched, and, what is still more extraordinary, are leafy at their extremities! Nor was this peculiarity confined to the growth of a single season, for it has already reappeared at least three years in succession! It produces a very singular effect, though it can hardly be said to add to the beauty of the plant.
O. Bictoniense, so called after Lady Rolle, of Bicton, in Devonshire, was the earliest species of this popular genus that ever reached England alive. It also formed a portion of the first box of Orchids that I ever received from Guatemala, whence they were sent to me in 1835 by my invaluable friend George Ure Skinner, now (1867) alas! – most suddenly and unexpectedly – numbered with the dead!
This is not the place for a memoir of that generous and enthusiastic spirit; – let it suffice to state that Mr. Skinner was on his way to Guatemala for a final visit, when he was attacked by yellow-fever early in February last on the Isthmus of Panama, and carried off after three days' illness! He was collecting plants on the Saturday before his death, and on the Wednesday he was a corpse! He was in his 63rd year, and had he but been permitted to return to England, would have crossed the Atlantic exactly forty times! He was the discoverer of O. grande and O. Uro-Skinneri, already figured in this work, and of at least fifty other Orchids, including the well-known Lycaste Skinneri perhaps the most useful and popular of its tribe.
Dissections. – 1. Lip and column, seen sideways; 2. Ditto ditto, seen in front: magnified.
Plate XIX.
ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRÆ
PRINCESS OF WALES' ODONTOGLOSSUM
(WHITE, OR WEIR'S VARIETY)
Of this charming Odontoglossum, which I had the honour to dedicate to H.R.H. the Princess of Wales, there appear to be innumerable varieties. Of these some – like the one figured at Plate XIV. – have crimson spots, others again are spotted with brown, while a third section – like the one represented in the Plate – have flowers of the purest white, relieved only by the rich golden crest of the lip. An excellent example of the latter variety was sent to me nearly two years ago by Mr. Paterson, of Ashville, Partrickhill, near Glasgow, and from this Mr. Fitch's drawing was obtained. Since then, other specimens of the same kind have been communicated to me, especially by Mr. Wentworth Buller, Mr. Jones, of Whalley Range, near Manchester, Mr. Bull, and Mr. Dawson of Meadow Bank. The last was an admirable specimen bearing as it did on a curved stalk about a dozen perfect flowers, all of which faced the same way, so as to form a sort of natural tiara exactly suited to a lady's head and which – especially when worn on dark hair – could not fail to produce a most beautiful effect.
This variety has also flowered at the Royal Gardens, Kew, a fact that is not a little creditable to Mr. Smith's (the Curator's) energy and skill, he being compelled to grow his Orchids in houses that are very ill adapted to such a purpose. Surely the Government of this wealthy country might afford to devote a few hundred pounds to the construction of houses in which these most popular and marvellous plants might be worthily grown!
As the first specimens of the white variety of O. Alexandræ were collected by Mr. Weir, it is only fitting that his name should be associated with it, just as the name of his rival Mr. Blunt has been connected with the variety distinguished by its crimson spots. Plants of both frequently acquire a reddish tint both in their bulbs and leaves, a tint which, wherever it occurs, is a sure criterion by which O. Alexandræ may be distinguished from other Odontoglossa that closely resemble it in habit.
O. Alexandræ proves to be a slow grower, and to require the coolest compartment of the Peruvian house. If this condition be attended to, it gives no trouble whatever, and produces its exceedingly durable flowers very freely indeed.
Dr. Triana met with it on the trunks of very large trees with dense foliage, ten leagues from Bogotá, and also at Pacho.
Dissections. – 1. Lip and column, seen in front; 2. Ditto, seen sideways: magnified.
