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ODONTOGLOSSUM LUTEOPURPUREUM sina 
lanceis ovaria pedicellata 
Pseudobulbis pyriformibus compressis diphyllis, foliis cuneato ligulatis acutis, racemo multifloro vulgo multo longiori, bract 
longe non ‘equantibus, sepalis cuneato oblongis acutis, tepalis subaqualibus, integerrimis, seu dentato serratis, seu serrato laceris, labello a basi rotundato 
oblongo nunc in isthmum angustato antice reniformi seu reniformi pandurato, toto limbo 
denticulato plus minus crispulo seu prope plano, carinis ternis a basi discum versus, 
lateralibus antice in lamellas laceroserratas expan: laciniis serraturee nunc uni-, nunc 
pluricuspidatis, carinis apice cuspidatis utrinque extrorsum seriatis, columna sub fovea 
angulata, androclinii membrana cingente denticulata in alas laceras utrinque juxte foveam 
descendente. 
ODONTOGLOSSUM LUTEOPURPUREUM, Lindl.! Orch. Lind., p. 16! (1846) ! Lindl. 
Folia Orch. I, Odontoglossum. Nr. 7!: Rchb. f. in Walpers Annal. vi. 828, Nr. i; 
Gard. Chron, 1884, May 3, 585 ! (Bogota variety) 
ODONTOGLOSSUM HYSTRIX, Bat.! Gard. Chron. 1864, p. 64! 
“ODONTOGLOSS dl.” Hook. Bot. Mag. 1876, 6237 ! 
Planta egregia polymorpha, quarum varietates seu in hoc libro, seu alibi tracta- 
buntur. 
Calorum variatio insignis. Sepala et tepala nunc stellata, nunc sepala lateralia 
labello subparallele supposita. Colorum varietates innumera. Alii flores pallidissime 
cinnamemeo picti, alii signis prope atropurpureonigratis, 
Limites plantarum affinium nondum bene certi. Odontoglossum sceptrum, Rchb. f., 
Wswz. offert flores breviores, carinas pulcherrime velutinas. Flor vulgo magnitudine 
mediocres. Florem ingentem, pulcherrimum omnium unquam mihi obviorum, habui ab 
ill. Baronessa Alice de Rothschild mediante exc. F. Sander. Odontoglossum radiatum, 
Rchb. f,, mihi labello angusto bene ad Odontoglossum mulum, Rchb. f,, accedere visum. 
ODONTOGLOSSUM LUTEOPURPUREUM. Bat. Odontoglossum, pl. xvii. (in tabula 
sphalmate “atropurpureum” dictum) omnino Odontoglossum radiatum videtur, Iconem 
originalem, tabule conficiende subjectam, ab exc. W. H. Fitch confectam (“Mr, Day’s, 
Figura nostra. Flos bene evolutus. Columna dua a latere, Nov., '85”), ipse possideo. Hc icon docet, labellum rite citrinum fuisse nec albidum, 
uti prodolor ! in opere excelente, saltem in specimine libri quod mihi ad manus, pictum. 
i Is >, 
Crescit in Andibus Nove Granatze (U.S. Columb.) Detecta est a cl. Linden (Nr. 1284 !) in sylvis densissimis Quindiu territorii. Februario. 7000 ! 
Nuper ssime lectum. Specimina ad manus legerunt : Linden! Schlim! Wagener! Triana! Wallis! Weir! Bruchmiiller! Simon ! Lehmann ! Chesterton! 
Boxall ! Garder ! H. G. Kchb. f. 
Turis handsome Odontoglossum is now looked upon as an old Orchid and not of the highest merit, but all who admire 
beautiful plants without taking into account bright or striking colours regard it as one of the finest Odontoglossa yet 
introduced. It possesses a beauty peculiar to itself; its bold and beautifully formed flowers, adorned with rich blotches of 
chestnut brown on a delicately shaded ground and hanging from a tall gracefully arching spike, render it a plant to be 
admired ; moreover its cheapness and simple culture have tended to make it popular. It is the type ofa section of 
the genus which of late years has been considerably augmented in number both by direct importation and chance 
variations under culture until now the group is without exception the most puzzling of any section, both to botanists and 
cultivators. There are numerous forms of Odontoglossa in gardens at the present day which, though they are different 
from the plant which is looked upon as the type of O. luteo-purpureum, must nevertheless be classed with it, for, though 
their flowers may differ widely in colour, the habit of growth and flower formation is seldom but slightly different. The 
nomenclature of the species belonging to the luteo-purpureum section has probably caused more discussion among 
cultivators than all the other sections combined, and if the whole of the forms comprised in this group could be 
thoroughly reviewed orchidists would be thankful. This, however, can only be accomplished by means of carefully 
named seedlings, and by raising mules labelled with equal care. 
O, luteo-purpureum is found in the district of Bogota, in New Grenada, and usually grows in company with 
O. odoratum on the lowermost branches of trees. There is a considerable variation as regards the colour of the flowers, 
the blotches and markings of the sepals and petals of some forms being larger and much brighter than those of others. 
In some forms, again, the lips of the flowers are completely covered with cinnamon red, while in others they are 
beautifully margined with white or yellow. O. hystrix is synonymous with O. luteo-purpureum, while O. sceptrum is a 
distinct variety or species possessing great beauty of form and colour in its flowers. 
With the introduction of O. luteo-purpureum into Europe the history of cool-house Orchid culture may be said to 
have commenced, for it was so quickly followed by numbers of other Odontoglossa from the rich Orchid region 
of New Grenada, that orchidi 
sts began to build special Odontoglossum houses in order to provide the necessary 
conditions of temperature and moisture, the result being that the species from the cool heights of the South American 
mountain ranges were found to be easily managed. This peculiar species, however, is not of such simple culture 
as O. crispum, O. Pescatorei and others, but requires the same attention as O. Hallii. It is one of those species that 
require to be kept rather dry at the roots at times and especially after the bulbs are developed, which occurs in May or 
June after which period the plants should be kept in a cool, shady and airy house, and only watered occasionally, but 
at each watering the plants should be thoroughly saturated. As soon as the young growths appear, which is usually in 
early autumn, the plants should be potted if necessary in the usuall compost, and afterwards placed ina moderately warm 
temperature, such as that in the coolest part of a Cattleya house. Throughout the winter, which is the growing season of 
this species, it must be placed in a slightly higher temperature than the majority of Odontoglossa require. As the 
growths develop and the bulbs begin to form the plants must have copious waterings, continued throughout the 
flowering season, which is generally in March and April, and until the bulbs are fully grown, which occurs about 
June, when a cooler and drier treatment is required, this constituting the resting season of the plant. 
Drawn by permission of Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., P.R.HLS., from a plant in the Burford Lodge collection. 
