ODONTOGLOSSUM HARRYANUM Rehb. f. 
Pseudobulbis_ pyriformi compressis demum longitudinaliter costatis diphyllis, rarius monophyllis, foliis cuneato oblongoligulatis obtuse acutis 
pergameneis; racemo usque ad vigintifloro, bracteis triangulis quam ovaria pedicellata multoties brevioribus, sepalis tepalisque ligulatis obtuse acutis undulatis, 
labello ab ungue utrinque angulato late subcordato, pandurato, apice abrupte acuto seu acuminato convoluto, carinis serrato laceris septenis usque novenis ante 
basin ; columna trigona medio angulata, alis subevanidis apice minute prominulis, callo quadrato de fovea breviter descendente, 
ODoNTOGLOssuM HARRYANUM Rchb. f. Gard. Chron. 1886, Oct. 16, Pp. 487! (Nesciebam, plantam ab exc. Rodriguez Pantocha detectam, a dom. 
Horsman introductam.) Gard. Chron. 1887, Aug. 6, p. 169, xyl. 41! 
Sepala brunnea fasciis, signis hieroglyphicis, apicibus, nunc marginibus flavis. Tepala basi area alba, striis violaceis, ceterum brunnea flavo marginata. 
Labellum basi usque per aream carinarum flavum. Area mediana alba radiis, striis, vulgo marginibus violaceis, Pars antica alba. Columna alba, superne 
flava, demum omnino flava, signis paucis brunneis in basi. 
In Nova Granada detexit exc. Rodriguez Pantocha. Introduxit dom. Horsman Colchesterensis, Emta demum fuere exemplaria a domino Veitch 
Chelsoniensi, HT, G. Rehb. f 
Icones analytic. Sepalum impar, par, tepalum, labellum. Columna utrinque visa. Anthera + Pollinarium a latere et a fronte + 
Surprises in the orchid world will never cease. For a generation past the orchid region of South America, and 
particularly those where Odontoglossa abound, have been constantly explored by collector after collector, all bent upon 
finding ‘something new,” yet not until the year 1886 was this extraordinary plant discovered, though many an 
enthusiastic collector has been within touch of it. It is a very long time since an Odontoglossum so distinct and so 
beautiful has reached our gardens, and the credit of first introducing it is due to Rodriguez Pantocha, who sent a few 
plants to Messrs. Horsman, of Colchester, in whose nursery it first flowered. Subsequently Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea, 
purchased the plants, and the novelty was named after Mr. Harry Veitch, Professor Reichenbach having been kept in 
ignorance of the name of the discoverer. We have ourselves been very successful in importing it in quantity, so 
that it will not we hope remain a rarity. 
The imported plants show to what a large size they grow in a wild state. Some have spikes upwards of a yard in 
length, many of them branched and carrying from twelve to twenty flowers. In growth and habit it resembles O. hasti- 
labium ; the leaves are broad and of a pale green, while the rather large bulbs are compressed. The flowers cannot be 
compared with those of any other Odontoglossum, being different both in form and colour. The rich brown of the 
broad sepals pencilled with yellow lines, and the yellow tipped petals act as a foil to the splendour of the labellum, which 
is large and heart shaped, adorned with a bright purple mauve around the golden yellow crest, and broadly margined 
with white. The species appears to be a spring and summer flowerer and continues a long time in beauty, 
Now that we possess such a treasure, how to grow it successfully is the question. From our collectors’ notes and 
from our own observations of the plants we possess, we conclude that they require a cool and moist treatment in 
summer, keeping them somewhat drier after flowering, and repotting them when the new growths appear. As stagnant 
moisture is injurious to the foliage care should be taken to prevent water lodging in the leaf axils. In October the plants 
should be removed to a slightly warmer house and there remain until April, giving the same winter temperature as for 
O. vexillarium, viz., from 57 deg. to 60 deg. F., and this treatment must be strictly adhered to. 
Drawn from a plant in the collection of R. H. Measures, Esq., The Woodlands, Streatham, London. 
