Oncidium 



( 130 ) 



Oncidium 



agated by seeds sown in spring in the open or 

 under glass; the perennials also by division at the 

 same season. Any ordinary garden soil in a 

 partially shaded position is suitable. The beautiful 

 Alpine, Luciliae, is liable to the attacks of slugs. 



Principal Species : 



Krameri, 9", sum., bl. nitida, 2', My., per.,wh. 



liuifolia,9", Je.,auu., wh. scorpioides, 1', Jy., ann., 



Venus's Navelwort. bl. 



Luciliip, 4", sum., per., venia, 6", Mch., per., bl. 



bl. alba, wh. 



and macranthum groups, which have the largest 

 flowers, the sepals and petals are well developed. 

 Oncidiuras are closely allied to Odontoglossum, 

 Miltonia, and Brassia. They are natives of Central 

 America, ranging at varying altitudes from Mexico 

 to Southern Brazil. 



Compost, Potting, Propagation, etc. Most Onci- 

 diiims require similar treatment to that accorded 

 to the majority of Odontoglossums (which sec). 



Special Cultural Points. A great mistake is 

 made in keeping the roots of such species as 



Photo : Chas. R. 



OLEARIA HAASTII (see p. 129). 



ONCIDIUM. 



Description. Although not quite so important 

 horticulturally as Odontoglossum, Oncidium (ord. 

 Orchidacese) is a far larger genus, containing about 

 300 species. A score or so are first-rate garden 

 plants, and in addition there are very many others 

 which cannot be excluded as unworthy of cultiva- 

 tion. Over 100 species are grown at Kew ; the 

 Royal Horticultural Society has made awards to 

 upwards of eighty species and varieties, and a 

 trade catalogue of 1901 contains descriptions of 

 about 150 species ; these figures indicate the im- 

 portance of the genus. The majority resemble the 

 bulk of Odontoglossums in their leaves and pseudo- 

 bulbs, but differ in inflorescence. One group 

 (jonesianum, etc.) has cylindrical leaves ; the ma- 

 cranthum group has long, flexuose spikes ; kra- 

 merianum, lanceanum, and a few others have very 

 broad, thick leaves ; and a few, such as bicallosum 

 and cavendishianum, have no pseudo-bulbs. As a 

 general rule the labellum, or lip, is the most im- 

 portant part of the flower, but in the kramerianum 



Omfilantlnis (<;<? Homalantlms). 

 Onitpluitobiunti (see Connarus). 



crispum, excavatum, Forbesii, sphacelatum, vari- 

 cosum, etc., too wet after the plants have com- 

 pleted growth, the result being an absence of 

 flowers. These and other leathery-leaved species 

 need only sufficient water at the period indicated 

 to keep the leaves and pseudo-bulbs plump. Papi- 

 lio, kramerianum, lanceanum, jonesianum, and 

 Cebolleta are best grown in an East Indian House, 

 and given little water when at rest. Ainpliatnm, 

 sarcodes, cavendishianum, varicosum, and their 

 varieties may be grown throughout the year in the 

 intermediate house, as they appreciate more 

 warmth than the macranthum group. Cebolleta, 

 jonesianum, and other round-leaved species succeed 

 best if fixed to small blocks of Teak wood, with a 

 little peat and sphagnum placed about their roots. 

 Most of them, jonesianum especially, require to be 

 suspended upside down, like Cattleya citrina. The 

 pretty little Limminghei has an ascending habit, 

 and should be fixed to a piece of Tree Fern stem. 



Temperatures. Oncidiums can be arranged in 

 three sections; those needing (1) stove, (2) inter- 

 mediate houso, and (3) cool house temperatures. 

 The first section will succeed with the Aerides, 

 Vandas, etc. ; the second with Cattleyas and 



