Pirate XVI. 
ODONTOGLOSSUM LAV E. 
SMOOTH-LIPPED ODONTOGLOSSUM. 
O. (Isanruium) pseudobulbis subeompressis sulcatis diphyllis, folis oblongo-ensiformibus 
obtuse acutis apice obliquis, scapis multifloris brevioribus, floribus laxe racemoso-pani- 
culatis, bracteis brevibus membranaceis, sepalis petalisque oblongo-linearibus acutis planıs, 
labelli limbo panduriformi apiculato ungui levi obsoletissime bidentato, column alis apice 
rotundatis crispis basi planis. Lindl. 
ODONTOGLOSSUM LEVE, 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. Lnavns sword-shaped, obtuse, or 
oblusely-acute, sometimes slightly oblique at their extremities, a foot or more long, shorter than the many-flowered 
Jlower-stems.  Frower-sreus loosely branched, 2 to 8 feet long, rather drooping, bearing from 20 to (sometimes) 
100 Frowers. Bracts from half an inch to an inch long, sharp-pointed, clipping tightly hold of the stem. SEPALS 
and Purats nearly equal, oblong-linear, acute, plane at the edges, usually about an inch long, light green, transversely 
banded with brown. Lie with a Jiddle-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. Reichen- 
heimii), 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 Phalenopsis—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. 
