ODONTOGLOSSUM LUTEO-PURPUREUM inaz 
VAR. PRIONOPETALUM Rehb, f 
Pseudobulbis pyriformibus compressis diphyllis, foliis cuneato ligulatis acutis, racemo multifloro vulgo multo longiori, bracteis lanceis ovaria pedicellata 
longe non zquantibus, sepalis cuneato oblongis acutis, tepalis subzqualibus, 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 expansis, laciniis serrature 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 LUTEO-PURPUREUM, Lindl.! Orch. Lind., p. 16! (1846)! Lindl. Folia Orch., I., Odontoglossum, Nr, 7': Rehb, f. in Walpers 
Annal. vi, 828, Nr. i; Gard. Chron,, 1884, May 3, 585 ! (Bogota variety). 
ODONTOGLOSsUM LUTEO-PURPUREUM, Bat. Odontoglossum, pl. xvii, (in tabula sphalmate « atropurpureum” dictum) omnino Odontoglossum 
radiatum videtur. Iconem originalem, tabulz conficienda subjectam, ab. exc. W. H. Fitch confectam (“Mr. Day’s, Nov, ’85”), ipse possideo, Hee icon 
docet, labellum rite citrinum fuisse nec albidum, uti prodolor ! in opere 11 , saltem in specimine libri quod mihi ad manus, pictum. 
ODONTOGLOssUM LUTEO-PURPUREUM VAR. PRIONOPETALUM, Rchb. f., jam descripta ac illustrata, 
Wn owe 
Icones analytica. Flos expansus. Columna a latere. Pollinaria. 
THE numerous forms and varieties of Odontoglossum luteo-purpureum now in cultivation are a source of bewilderment 
alike to botanists and horticulturists, who find it almost next to impossible to attempt anything approaching a satisfactory 
classification of them. There are, of course, many very distinct varieties which still continue to retain the characteristics 
by which they were originally distinguished; but, on the other hand, there are many others—and by far the greatest 
proportion—which individually are sufficiently distinct, but when compared with other forms, merge into them by almost 
imperceptible gradations. From every fresh importation of O. luteo-purpureum one may nearly always expect the appear- 
ance of some new form when the flowering season arrives. One of the latest and most remarkable we have seen was a 
fine spike of the variety known as crispatum, which originated in the early part of this year in the collection of 
E. M. Mundy, Esq., of Shipley Hall, Derby. The spike bore about a dozen large flowers, each nearly three and a half 
inches across. The sepals had a few very large deep brown blotches on a clear yellow ground, and the much crisped 
petals were similarly marked with smaller but more numerous blotches of the same colour. The large, denticulate lip, 
however, forms the chief peculiarity of this variety, being remarkable for its fantastical convolutions, which suggested the 
varietal name to the late Prof. Reichenbach, to whom the entire specimen was unfortunately sent—not, however, without 
a sketch having first been made of one of the flowers. Another variety, equally remarkable from another point of view, is 
that represented by our plate, and named prionopetalum by Prof. Reichenbach, in reference to the saw-edged petals. O. 
luteo-purpureum prionopetalum is characterised by its long spike of very large flowers, whose clear yellow ground colour 
is covered with rich purple-brown blotches, which on the erose or irregularly serrulated petals are very numerous and 
irregular in shape. 
O. luteo-purpureum and its varieties are distributed over a large area of Colombia (or New Granada), inhabiting 
the mountain ranges of the Andes at elevations varying from 6000 to 7000 feet. Such being the case, the plants conse- 
quently do not require to be grown in a high temperature. During the summer months a cool, shady, and well-ventilated 
house suits them admirably, together with only moderate supplies of water, as the plants are in a resting condition until 
the autumn, at the approach of which they should be repotted if necessary, and placed in a slightly warmer house—say, 
with a temperature of 60 to 65 deg. F. As the growths acquire more vigour, the supply of water may be propor- 
tionately increased and continued until both the growing and flowering seasons have terminated. When the period of 
rest again sets in, the plants should be moved back to their cooler quarters. 
Our plate is from a plant in the collection of Miss Alice Rothschild, Eythrope, near Aylesbury. 
