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Plate XXV. 



ODOXTOGLOSSUM INSLEAYI. 



A charming epiphytal orchid, with ovate compressed pseudobulbs, from the top of which jjtow a pair of ubloin?-eti«i- 

 form, somewhat undulated, coriaceous leaves, the latter recurved at the end, and Shorter than the erect rigid 

 flower ttcape. 'Iltc racemes are from Mx-ilowered to leiMIoworcd, and the flowers measure from two and 

 a half inches to three inches across. The sepals and petuls ore similar in rizo and form, «lt!«m^ wavj ,ii tho 

 margin, the lower sepals connate at the base, nil pale yellow, spotted and banvd with rich brown. The lip i< 

 narrow obovate, retuse, auricled at the base^ of a brighter yellow, spotted around the margin with rcdj 

 mid bearing on the disk a crest which has two teeth on cither side : the column is furnished with red subulate 

 h- ■ i u> « r cirrhi. 



Odoktoolossltm Insleati, Lwdhy* Folia Qrc&fdacw, art. Odontoglosnua do. 8: RtichenbachfiL) Walper* Antmt* 



Jtotanicts Systematica^ ri. S2S ; Itateman^ Monograph of Qthmtoglotxttmi L 4. 

 Oxcipiuw Inmxavi, Barktr, Hofaniail Register* 1840, misc. 21 ; Batman, OrtladaeM tf $fexico % t. til : Van Iloitttt, 



Ftorc <h* &mv, 1818, I, 62. 



Tliis handsome »|»eeics of Odontoglot lias very much the general aspect of Odontogtossam grande* but 

 it is distinguished from that species by its narrower lip, and especially by its cirrhosc column. These two 

 species are indeed the connecting links between the sections JtaodoN/ot/losMim and XmlhM/Umum t the 

 former of which) represented bv 0* /W*vjyi, has the column wings elongated and acuminate, while in the latter, 

 represented by 0. yr/W<\ the corresponding parts either bear rounded auricle*, or are altogether wingless. 



Odontoijhmum ImUajfi is native of Mexico and Oaxaca, and ha* been for some years an inmate of our 

 orchid houses. A very fine variety named macranthnm^ by DnLindlcy, and which hsis paler and larger flowers, 

 but without the rich red spotting on the lip, has borne in gardens the name of 0. Lawrcnceamtw. The 

 typical form of the plant is very faithfully represented in the accompanying plate. Its near relationship to 

 0. gmnde will be apparent from the figure; indeed* it resembles that plant so closely, that it is not always 

 easily recognized when destitute of flowers. The pscudobulbs which are ovate, and somewhat furrowed, bear 

 upon the apOX a pair of oblong, pointed leaves, which arc about ten inches long, leather)' in texture, and of 

 a deep glaucous green. The flower spike is creel, produced from the base of the pseudo-bulb, and usually 

 bears from six to ten flowers, which individually measure about three inches in diameter. The sepals and 

 petals are oblong, nearly equal in size, and waved at the edges; the ground colour is a pale yellow, marked 

 throughout with transverse bars of reddish brown. The lip is somewhat obovate, and of a bright yellow, 

 having a border of red spots, and furnished with a few tubercles on the disc. It blooms at various times 

 during the year, but may be easily made to bloom constantly in January and February. Being a native of 

 Mexico* where it is found growing at elevations of from 5000 to 0000 feet above the level of the sea, the 

 specie* now under consideration, like the majority of the plants belonging to this extensive and magnificent 

 genus, requires to be grown in a cool house; indeed, very few of the Odonloglols live long if subjected to 

 much heal. We have found this species thrive admirably in a temperature ranging from 50° to 35° in winter, 

 and from 50* to 65° during summer, though, of course, it is impossible to maintain this temperature equably 

 within a few degrees during the bright, hot days of summer. The soil should be good fibrous pent, with 

 winch may be mixed some few pieces of charcoal : at the same time, the drainage must bo ample, and 

 S£OOND skkiiis. 





