1G99 



* ONCIDIUM ampliatum. 



Inroad-lipped Oncidiiim. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. 

 Nat. ord. Orchide-e. Juss. {Introduction to the Natural ^ijstem of 

 Botam/, p. 262.) 



ONCIDIUM. Supra, vol. \3. foL 1050. 



O. ampliatum ; sepalls omnibus liberis, labello bilobo subrotundo transverso : 

 laciniis lateralibus brevissimis, callo baseos .5-lobo : lobis lateral ibns patentis- 

 simis planls truncatis intermediis teretibus centrali compresso, alis columuae 

 cuneatis dentatis reflexis, pseudo-bulbis subrotundis compressis, foliis planis 

 oblongo-lanceolatis, scapo erecto apice ramoso. 



O. ampliatum. Lindl. in Hook. Bot. misc. v. 3. p. Gen. et sp. orch. part 3. 

 p. 202. 

 Folia et pseudobulbi /acie omnino O. papilionis. Scapus ascendens, radi- 



calis, l^-2-pcdalis, apice ramosus. Flores lutei, labelli dorso alho. 



First found in central America by Mr. Cuming, and afterwards 

 procured in a living state by Richard Harrison, Esq. from whom the 

 beautiful specimen now figured was received in March last. 



Peculiar as are its flowers, and distinct as the species is in most 

 respects, it is curious that its leaves and pseudo-bulbs should be so 

 like those of O. Papilio, that we have known the latter to be mis- 

 taken for it. 



Like all the rest of its genus, it requires the hot damp atmosphere 

 of a stove, in which, if we may judge by Mr. Harrison's specimens, it 

 finds itself perfectly at home. We have not yet heard of it in any 

 other collection. 



It is well known that the most considerable part of the Epiphy- 

 tal Orchidese is found in the greatest vigour in damp sultry %voods of 

 tropical countr ies ; and accordingly we endeavour in our artificial 

 cultivation, to form an atmosphere for them as nearly as possible that 

 which they would naturally breathe in such stations. That this is 

 attended with very great success is obvious from such plants as the 

 one now figured, and from the numerous splendid specimens which 

 are from time to time appearing in the collections of Earl Fitzwil- 

 liam, Lord Grey of Groby, the Messrs. Harrison, Bateman, Huntley, 

 Loddiges, and Knight, and the Horticultural Society. 



But it is sufficiently evident that although this kind of treatment 

 is admirably suited to a considerable number, there are others which 

 grow most unwillingly, or scarcely survive, under such circum- 

 stances. For instance, Dendrohium speciosum languishes in situations 

 where the Stanhopeas are in their greatest splendour ; and the Chinese 

 Bletias almost perish by the side of Eulophia and Zygopetalum. This 

 arises from the great difference in their respective constitutions, which 



* Seefol. 1542. 

 VOL. XXI. II 



