296 THE GARDENER. [July 



inches long, and the flowers themselves are most deliciously perfumed. 

 It is at present rare in collections. 



Odontoglossum vexillarium. — This is perhaps the most superb 

 plant in the genus to which it belongs, which is saying a great deal ; 

 but when seen staged side by side with 0. Alexandras, 0. Pesca- 

 torei, and the other acknowledged beauties of the group, they all pale 

 before this magnificent species. It is one of Messrs Veitch & Son's 

 introductions, by whom it was first flowered. Its pseudo-bulbs are from 

 3 to 4 inches long, flat, and rather pale in colour, bearing one or two 

 oblong-lanceolate leaves of a pale glaucous-green tint. The bulbs are 

 also furnished with two or three basilar leaves on each side, from 

 which the sub-erect flower-spikes emerge. Messrs Veitch & Son 

 exhibited a superb little specimen at the Horticultural Exhibition at 

 South Kensington, June 24, which bore two spikes of six blossoms 

 each, being the finest plant yet exhibited. The flowers are large and 

 of good substance, being nearly 3 inches across. Sepals and petals 

 of a delicate rose colour. Lip broadly flabellate, of a bright rosy 

 tint, the base being of a lemon-yellow colour. Some varieties are 

 marked with radiate lines of purple on the lip, and the size and 

 shape of the blossoms also vary in different individuals. This superb 

 plant undoubtedly has a great future before it, and it is difficult to 

 foresee the ultimate perfection to which it may be grown. It suc- 

 ceeds well treated like its congeners, grown in a small pot and sus- 

 pended near the light ; and like them, it grows freely and requires an 

 abundant supply of moisture. 



0. Insleayi (var. Leopardlnum). — This is a very fine and richly 

 coloured form of 0. Insleayi, introduced to our collections by Messrs 

 James Backhouse k Son of York. In habit, it is nearly identical 

 with 0. Insleayi, but its large massive flowers are far superior in 

 point of colouring. The sepals and petals are of a pale green colour, 

 heavily barred and blotched with rich shining brown, while the bright 

 golden lip is superbly blotched with rich velvety crimson. I saw this 

 noble plant growing freely, in the new Mexican house of Messrs James 

 Backhouse & Son at York, a short time ago, and it was by them 

 exhibited the other day at South Kensington in fine condition, 

 bearing five flower-spikes, and nearly twenty flowers. This will 

 undoubtedly prove an effective plant when it gets thoroughly estab- 

 lished. 



We have a few more new and rare Orchids to notice, but must 

 defer them until our next paper. F. W. B. 



