[15 ] 
ODONTOGLOSSUM INSLEAYT zine, SPLENDENS revo. ¢ 
ODONTOGLOssUM INSLEAYI: pseudobulbis semiovatis compressis diphyllis, foliis oblongo-lanceolatis acutis, pedunculo racemoso brevioribus, pedunculo 
paucifloro erecto, bracteis linearilanceis ovariis pedicellatis longe brevioribus, sepalis cuneato oblongis acutis, lateralibus nunc ima basi paulo coalitis, tepalis 
subaqualibus, labelli auriculis basilaribus retrorsis semioblongis seu triangulis acutis, lacinia mediana antica ab ungue cuneato obcordato plus minus expansa, 
callo ligulato in cornua duo excurrente in basi, callo cuneato obcordato medio vulgo carinato anteposito, carinulis plus minus evolutis juxta marginem auri- 
cularum anticum, columna basi producta, alis uncinatis velutinis, 
Oncip1uM INSLEAyI, Barker, in Lindl. Bot. Reg. 1840, misc. 21!; Bateman Orch, Mex, Guat. tab. 21!; Paxton Mag,, 8, 265!; Van Houtte Flore des 
Serres, I. 43! (Eadem icon.) 
ODONTOGLOssU} YI, Lindl. Folia I., Odontoglossum, Nr. 8 ; Bateman Odontoglossum, tab. 4! 
(ODONTOGLOSSUM INSLEAYI MACRAD THUM, Lindl. Folia O., Nr. 8 (B.)! Journal Hort. Soc, viii, 55! xyl! non huc pertinet. Est Odontoglossum 
- Moore inf Williams’ Orchid Manual, ed. 5, 445! etiam dicitur Odontoglossum Lawrenceanum Hort.) 
lores pulcherrime flavi brunneo purpureo picti. 
Crescit in Mexico, unde primus viator Ross ad dom Barker, Birminghamensem misit, qui in honorem hortulani sui nominavit, Reperitur in barrancis. 
Floret Novembri ac Decembri. 
6. PANTHERINUM, Rchb, f,, Gard, Chron, 1873, 1302!: sepalis tepalisque latioribus abrupte ac hieroglyphice fasciatis, labello circa marginem non 
maculato, sed fasciato, 
Reperitur in Mexico, ubi in Sierra Madre a b. Roezl et fratribus Klaboch lectum, Nuper egregie cultum misit Baronessa Adolphe de Rothschild, Pavillon 
de Pregny, Genéve. In hortis « leopardinum ” vulgo dicitur. 
¢ SPLENDENS, Rchb. f,, Gard. Chron,, 1868, 1038!; sepalis tepalisque splendide castaneis, margine tantum hinc illine flavis, labello flavo, pulcherrime 
margine purpureo maculato, Gard, Chron. 1886, March 6, xyl pag. 305, pag. 304, text., optime. 
Rara varietas inter normalem plantam parce, imo parcissime obvia, primum ab exc, Low introducta. 
“Ze, \W) 
Figura analytice aucte : labelli basis, columna cum labelli basi a latere, columna a fronte visa, pollinarium.— 7. G, Rehé. f. 
Tue beautiful Mexican Orchid herewith illustrated is a rare variety of a species belonging to a small but very distinct 
section of the genus known as Xanthoglossum, so called because all the species have flowers with yellow lips. The noble 
O. grande may be regarded as the type of the section, among the members of which a strong family likeness prevails. 
There are four of the group in cultivation, viz., Insleayi, the most northern form inhabiting Mexico, O. grande and 
Williamsianum from Guatemala, while further south, in Costa Rica, O. Schlieperianum is found. These plants resemble 
each other in growth, having compressed pseudo-bulbs, leathery foliage of a pale green colour, and similarly shaped flowers 
in which yellow predominates. 
O. Insleayi is an old introduction, having been first flowered in this country in 1840 by Mr. Barker, of Bir- 
mingham, who named the plant after his gardener. Ever since then it has been somewhat rare in gardens, but as soon as 
its wonderful variety, which Reichenbach named splendens, cropped up out of an importation in 1868, renewed interest 
was directed to this Orchid. A few years later another variety appeared, and this Reichenbach named pantherinum, now 
generally known in gardens as leopardinum. This variety, like splendens, is superior in beauty to the type, which has 
yellow flowers, barred and spotted with a dullish brown. The beauty of the splendens variety is admirably shown by our 
plate, which represents one of the best forms, for individual plants vary a good deal as regards the size of the flowers and 
their markings and brilliancy of colour. Some have the blotches on the labellum much heavier than others, and others, 
again, vary in the breadth of the petals, sepals and lips. Generally the flowers measure about four inches across, with the 
sepals and petals of a bright chestnut brown, tipped and bordered with yellow. The lip is invariably of a beautiful clear 
chrome yellow, with small crimson-red blotches usually arranged in a marginal zone. It is unquestionably one of the finest 
of cultivated Orchids, and as it blooms in early autumn, when Orchid flowers are not abundant, it is the more valuable. 
This variety inhabits the mountains of western Mexico, and is rare even in a wild state, for, like other precious 
varieties, it does not grow plentifully in districts by itself, but is found in company with the commoner variety pantherinum, 
on the same trees. Usually there is but one splendens variety to be found among hosts of plants of other forms, but on one 
occasion our collector saw a dozen plants in bloom on one tree, doubtless the progeny of a single plant. Under these 
circumstances it is doubtful if ever it will become a common plant in cultivation, for it can never be imported in quantity, 
like Insleayi itself, or its relatives, grande and Schlieperianum. 
As regards its culture, like grande and others of the group, it is not difficult to manage. As in the case of other Mexican 
Orchids the essential conditions are abundant light and sun heat, and a distinct resting period. It should be kept quite 
dry from the time it flowers in autumn until May, and at the same time it must be kept cool, that is to say, with a mini- 
mum temperature of 50 deg. F., and a maximum of 65 deg. from artificial heat. About the beginning of May the plant 
will commence active growth, and then it should have no lack of water, and all the sunlight that can be given it, indeed, 
throughout the summer it requires no shading. This treatment should be continued until the flowering period. It may 
be grown successfully either in pots or baskets; some prefer the latter, as the plants can then be suspended close under the 
roof and thus receive the full benefit of light and air. 
Drawn by permission of the Duke of Marlborough from a plant in the Blenheim Collection. 
