Tas. 6662. 
ONCIDIUM prarextom. 
Native of South Brazil. 
Nat. Ord. Oncu1pEm.—Tribe VanpEx. 
Genus Oncrpium, Swartz; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pi. vol. iii. p- 562 (ined.) 
Oncrprvm (planifolia) pretextum ; pseudobulbis oblongis leviter sulcatis 2-foliatis, 
foliis ensiformibus subacutis basi breviter vaginantibus, panicula graciliter 
breviter pedunculata nutante sparsiflora, floribus graciliter pedicellatis 1} poll. 
diam., bracteis parvis, sepalo dorsali parvo stipitato obovato v. elliptico obtuso 
intus aureo brunneo fasciato, lateralibus lineari-oblongis obtusis deflexis, petalis 
sepalis duplo majoribus obovatis profunde sinuato-lobulatis pallide brunneis, 
labelli magni breviter stipitati lobis lateralibus parvis quadratis aureis 
intermedio amplo semicirculari v. flabelliformi undulato aureo brunneo late 
marginato, callis utrinque ad basin oblongis verrucosis, columna minuta sub- 
globosa, alis rotundatis. 
O. pretextum, Reichb. in Gard. Chron. 1873, p. 1206. 
This belongs to much the largest section of the genus 
Oncidium, which abounds in Brazil, and of which the 
Species are as yet only partially known in collections. Dr. 
Reichenbach indicates O. crispwm, Lodd. (Plate 3499 of 
this work) as allied to it, and no doubt correctly, though 
O. crispwm is a much larger and coarser plant with almost 
wholly brown flowers relieved with yellow only at the bases 
of the petals, lip, and column. 
O. preetextwm was introduced by John H. Wilson, Esq., 
of Liverpool, who communicated specimens to Dr. Reichen- 
bach in 1873, and who states that it was discovered by 
Mr. E. D. Jones in the province of St. Paolo, Brazil. The 
specimen here figured flowered in the Royal Gardens in 
July last. It is deliciously sweet-scented. 
Descr. Pseudo-bulbs one and a half to two inches long, 
oblong, slightly compressed and faintly grooved. Leaves 
two at the top of the pseudo-bulb, five to seven inches long 
by one to one and a half broad, ensiform, subacute, pale 
DECEMBER Ist, 1882. _ 
