Part 9

Specimens of the plant have been sent to me by Messrs. Low, Mr. W. W. Buller, Mr. Rucker, Mr. Day, and Mr. Paterson; it has also flowered at Knypersley, but as yet no two specimens have been alike for, while some were beautifully spotted on the lip and petals with brown or crimson, others, with the exception of the golden crest on the labellum, were of the purest white. To the last-named class belonged the specimens grown by Mr. Buller and Mr. Paterson, the latter of which were so eminently lovely that they will form the subject of a separate Plate. Mr. Blunt's name may very properly be associated with the spotted variety now figured, and which was taken from a plant that he sent to his employers at Clapton.

O. Alexandræ is nearly allied to O. crispum and O. Pescatorei; but, independently of the structure of its flowers, differs from both in its invariably producing simple racemes instead of branched panicles. It flowers freely in the winter and spring months, and may apparently be cultivated with the greatest ease. Of course, coming as it does from a great elevation, it must not be kept too warm.

DISSECTIONS.--1. Lip and column (magnified), seen in front. 2. Ditto, ditto, seen sideways.

Plate XV

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

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

PLATE XVII.