Kitabı oku: «A Monograph of Odontoglossum», sayfa 6

Plate XX.
ODONTOGLOSSUM MACULATUM

SPOTTED ODONTOGLOSSUM

O. (Xanthoglossum) pseudobulbis oblongis compressis monophyllis, foliis oblongis nervosis acutiusculis, racemis subpendulis multifloris brevioribus, bracteis navicularibus herbaceis ovario brevioribus, sepalis lineari-lanceolatis acuminatis discoloribus, petalis oblongis undulatis acuminatis, labello cordato acuminato subcrenato, appendice unguis bivalvi concavâ cochleari apice liberâ bidentatâ per medium argute serrulatâ, columnâ pubescente subapterâ. Lindl.

Odontoglossum maculatum, Llave, Orch. Mex. 2, 35; Bot. Reg. 1840, t. 30; Pescatorea, t. 28; Lindl. Fol. Orch.

Habitat in Mexico, Lexarza, Barker, Karwinski.

DESCRIPTION

Pseudobulbs narrow, oblong, much compressed, from 2 to 4 inches long, 1-leaved. Leaves lanceolate-oblong, nervose, more or less sharp-pointed, shorter than the flower-scapes. Bracts boat-shaped, acuminate, the lower ones shorter than the upper ones, nearly as long as the ovary. Racemes nodding, sometimes pendulous, 5- to 12-flowered, about a foot long. Flowers variable in size and colour, which is sometimes a brightish at other times only a greenish-yellow, spotted with brown. Sepals brown inside, linear-lanceolate, acuminate. Petals rather wide, oblong, waved, acuminate. Lip heart-shaped, acuminate, slightly crenate, with a two-cleft process forming a pair of blunt teeth at the upper end of the claw. Column pubescent, clavate, wingless.

This plant is common in many parts of Mexico, especially on the Irapæan mountains in the neighbourhood of Valladolid, where it was originally discovered and described by Lexarza, that earliest of Orchid-devotees! It was also one of the earliest species of the extensive genus to which it belongs that ever produced flowers in England. The credit of introducing it belongs to the late Mr. Barker, of Birmingham, with whom it bloomed about the year 1839, but it soon disappeared, like nearly the whole of the invaluable collection of Mexican Orchids that I remember having seen in the most splendid condition, shortly after their arrival, in his stoves. Fifteen years afterwards it was reintroduced by M. Linden, from whose establishment the figure in 'Pescatorea' was obtained, but it seems to have again been lost. Last spring (1866) I had the pleasure of seeing the species in the best possible health in Mr. Dawson's rich and admirably-managed collection at Meadow Bank near Glasgow, and from his plant, which flowered in April, Mr. Fitch's drawing was prepared. I also received specimens about the same time from Mr. Turner. Still more recently, Messrs. Hugh Low and Co. have imported it in large quantities and excellent condition, and many good varieties have already appeared, though none that I have yet seen are so fine or so richly coloured as that of Mr. Dawson. One that is now flowering at Knypersley is a dull yellowish-green.

In its native country it flowers in March, which is about the time of its flowering with us. As to treatment it will naturally be found more at home in the Mexican house, where a cool and comparatively dry atmosphere should be maintained, than in the Peruvian house, which should be suited to the species that are accustomed to a damper and – not unfrequently – still cooler climate. I have no doubt that this distinction will be found of much practical utility, for although "cool treatment" as opposed to "warm" marks a very important division still, just as among "warm" plants it is necessary to separate the East Indian Aerides from the Brazilian Cattleyas, so among "cool" plants it will be advisable to separate the Mexican Lælias from the Peruvian Odontoglossa. Nay, I apprehend that what I call the "Peruvian house" will itself have to be subdivided into two portions, one of which, i. e. the warm portion, will contain such plants as the Trichopilias, the Anguloas, and such Odontoglossa as are met with below 6500 feet, while the other or cooler portion will be suited to an innumerable multitude of glorious Orchids that are met with at a still higher elevation. Already cultivators have discovered that O. Phalænopsis and O. nævium cannot be made to thrive in the same house, for though both are "cool" plants the former – coming as it does from a lower level – requires a decidedly warmer climate than the latter, and so it will be in many other cases which are not yet so distinctly understood.

Dissections. – 1. Lip and column, seen sideways; 2. Front view of ditto: magnified.

Plate XXI.
ODONTOGLOSSUM HALLII

COLONEL HALL'S ODONTOGLOSSUM

O. (Euodontoglossum, Lindl.) pseudobulbis ovatis, ancipitibus 1-2-phyllis, foliis ensiformibus in basin angustatis, racemo multifloro (raro sub-paniculato), sepalis petalisque ovato-lanceolatis unguiculatis labello oblongo acuminato lacero, cristâ baseos lamellatâ multifidâ, columnæ alis dente superiore aristato.

Odontoglossum Hallii, Lindl. in Bot. Reg. sub t. 1992, et Folia Orchid.; Reichenbach fil. Xenia, i. 63; Walpers Annales, vi. p. 828.

Habitat in Peru (western declivity of Pichincha), Hartweg; Valley of Lloa, at elevation of 8000 ft., Col. Hall; N. Grenada in forests of Pamplona, 8500 ft., Linden.

DESCRIPTION

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 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 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 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 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.