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EPIDENDRUM VITELLINUM ina. MAJUS fort 
Glaucopruinatum, f 
pyriformibus seu pyriformi, ancipitibus diphyllis, foliis oblongo ligulatis acutis, spatha florali sepius evoluta, racemo 
plurifloro (nunc panicula), ovario trigono, perigonio carnoso coriacco, sepalis 
oblongis acutis supra nervum medium obsolete carinatis, extus pruinatis, 
tepalis latiusculis ovatis acutis ecarinatis, labello column varie adnato, ligu- 
lato seu oblongo acuto (nunc trilobo in eadem inflorescentia), callis incrassatis 
excavatis geminis in basi varie evolutis, carinula nunc interjecta, columna 
trigona apice tridentata, basi antica cum fovea nectariflua. 
EPIDENDRUM CROCEUM de Mexico, Pavon! MSS. 1798 in Herl 
ill. b, Edmond Boissier!] EPIDENDRUM VITELLINUM Lindl.! Orch. 97! 
(1831) Bot. Reg. 1840, tab. 35! (specimen miserum mexicanum). Sertum 
Orchid., tab. 45!; Fol. Orchid. I, Epidendrum Nr. 4!; Warner, Williams, 
Moore, Orch, Album. I, t. 41; Floral Mag., 261; Hook. Bot. Mag. 4107! ; 
Epidendrum vitellinum majus Hort. 
6, MINUS: gracilius, floribus minoribus, tepalis angustioribus, labello 
bene angusto. Forsan huc pertinet Van Houtte Flore des Serres, 1028 ! 
licet ex Mexico dictum. 
Pedunculus viridis pruinosus. Bractee oblongotriangule pedicellis 
bene breviores. Pedicelli cinnabarini, Ovaria vulgo cum pedicellis angulata, 
viridia, cinnabarino striata. Sepala ac tepala cinnabarina usque cinnabarin o 
vitellina. Labella colore multum varia xanthina, sulphurea, cinnabarino 
aquose lavata, flava apiculo cinnabarino, dimidio flava, dimidio cinnabarina. 
Columna flava. Anthera cinnabarina. Fructus exalati verrucosi asperi. 
Crescit_ in Mexico, ubi detexit cl. Pavon 1798! Oaxaca, Karwinski ! 
Oaxaca: chénes 4 4500—6000! Juin. Rare Galeotti! Talea Jiirgensen ! 
Teneo specimen panicula triramea, ramis lateralibus septemfloris elongatis ! 
Cumbre of Tetontepeque in Mexico 9000! Hartweg! Oaxaca. Octobre— 
Décembre. Reégions trés froides, sur les chénes, Ghiesbreght ! 
Guatemala v. Warscewicz ! 
Figure analytice. Flos oblique visus labello integerrimo. Idem aque 
oblique visus labello trilobo ab ill, Barone de Schreeder largitus, Flos Gratissimo animo profiteor, me curcute exc. F, Sander specimina 
postice visus ut sepalorum  carinas conspicias, Labella duo cum incredibilis elegantiaw ac -vigoris accepisse ab ill. Baronessa Alice de 
columna varie connata 4+. Columna antice + Anthera superne ac Rothschild et ab. ill. Barone de Schroeder, qui paniculam misit floribus 
inferne 4+ Pollinaria duo postice. nonnullis labello trilobo ornatis, reliquis legitimis. 
Tuts much is certain that the plant known to amateurs as Epidendrum vitellinum majus is the same as Epidendrum 
vitellinum Lindl., although for some time the tiny Guatemalese plant appears to have been regarded as the type. My 
idea is to leave to amateurs their own nomenclature as much as possible, and this was also Dr. Lindley’s opinion. 
Hence we kept vitellinum “ majus.” I alluded to both varieties as early as 1866 (Beitreege zu einer Orchideenkunde 
Central Amerikas, p. 341). I may add that among Epidendrum vitellinum “ majus” there are some very small, with tiny 
flowers, yet they have apparently always much broader sepals and petals. If anyone would like to enlighten himself as 
to the immense progress made during the last twenty years in Orchid culture, let him look at old representations of 
flowers and compare them with what our best men produce at the present day. Lf. G. Rehb. f. 
It is not likely that the great popularity which this plant now enjoys will ever diminish seeing that it stands out so 
prominently from all other cultivated Orchids as regards the colour of its flowers. Although there are several others that 
possess flowers of a similar orange-red colour none of these have the same brilliancy of hue, neither are they capable of 
producing such a glowing effect as an assemblage of well flowered plants of this Epidendrum. It was introduced in 
1840, but for many years was a very scarce plant in gardens. Of late years, however, it has been imported abundantly, 
and now it is not uncommonly seen grown by the hundred in large collections. It is a native of Mexico and of 
Guatemala in Central America, and grows naturally on oak trees. The small flowered tiny form invariably comes 
from Guatemala, while the large flowered type (majus) comes from the Mexican habitats. It may be termed an alpine 
Orchid, seeing that its home is on “cloud capped mountains amidst continual mists.” It reaches an altitude of gooo to 
10,000 feet above sea level, where, of course, a low temperature prevails at some seasons. Hence, it must be treated 
strictly as a cool house Orchid. The nature of the plant’s growth, its dwarf habit, the thick texture of its leaves and 
flowers, and the peculiar waxy powder with which its foliage is coated, all indicate that it is a plant which delights to 
grow in an atmosphere heavily charged with moisture. It is in consequence of this fact that some parts of the British 
Isles are more favourable than others for the growth of this and other mountain Orchids from western America. We 
always find that in moist localities, such as in the western parts of England and Scotland, E. vitellinum is grown 
to perfection with the least amount of trouble. 
The successful culture of this Orchid is not difficult, especially where an Odontoglossum house exists, as it must be 
grown in a cool, moist and equable atmosphere. While in active growth it should have an abundance of moisture, and a 
proper resting period must be observed. ‘The west side of an Odontoglossum house suits it admirably, as it then gets 
plenty of light and air. The plant is in active growth from about August till December, and during this period it must be 
well watered and enjoy a moisture-laden atmosphere. From December till about March it should be given a decided rest, 
but water must not be entirely withheld, otherwise the incipient flower sheaths will suffer. From March onwards it must 
never be dry, and it is advisable after the rest to thoroughly saturate the soil by dipping in water. It flowers 
in June and July and remains in bloom for several weeks in a dry cool atmosphere. It succeeds best in pots, though it 
may be grown well in suspended pans or baskets. Being so dwarf it is best to suspend the plants near the roof, otherwise 
they suffer from want of light. The usual potting compost of peat and sphagnum moss suits it. 
Our plate was drawn from a plant in the collection of Chas. Dorman, Esq., The Fi Sydenham, London. 
