ODONTOGLOSSUM TRIUMPHANS Rehb. f. 
ODONTOGLOssUM TRIUMPHANS, Rchb. f.: Aff. O. luteo-purpureo, petalis erosis, labello basi bifalci, utrinque bicalloso, gynostemii alis rhombeis 
ascendentibus margine externo erosulis, Folia oblonga lanceolata acuminata, basi attenuata, pedunculus elongatus, racemosus, internodia elongata, bracteee 
triangula ovariis pedicellatis 4—5 breviores, sepala oblonga acuta basi bene angustata, petala subsqualia, latiora, magis acuminata, utrinque hinc illinc 
lobulata, sinuato dentata, labelli unguis linearis lamin tertiam adaquans, disco bicarinatus, dimidio cum gynostemio connatus, lamina pandurata, apiculata, 
margine denticulata, paulo ante apicem unguis excurrentes indentes antrorsos falcatos tertiam lamine equantes, interposita in sinu utriusque papula minutis- 
sima, papula 2 majores extrorse, pone carinas, gynostemium semiteres apicem versus curvatum, ale pone foveam rhombex minute denticulatee, sinu quadrato 
separate ab alis inferioribus rectilineis basin usque progredientibus. 
ODONTOGLOSSUM TRIUMPHANS, Rchb. f, in Seemann, Bonplandia IL, 1854, p. 99; id., Gard. Chron., 1867, p. 516; Lind. Pescatorea, 1860, t. 46. 
Illust. Hort., 1869, t. 609 ; Batem. Monogr. Od, 1874, t. 23 ; FI. et Pomol., 1877, p. 217 ; De Puydt, Les Orch, t. 30; Warner & Williams’ Orchid Album IL, 
t. 58. 
Icones analytic. Columna et labellum a latere. Labellum explanatum. Pollinaria aucta. 
OponToGLossum triumphans is a deservedly popular species with most cultivators of Orchids, and the happy knack 
which the late Prof. Reichenbach possessed in choosing specific names was well shown in this case. Belonging to that 
group of Odontoglossum which display, in varying degrees of richness, the predominating colours of brown and yellow, 
O. triumphans may be looked upon as equal to such species as O. grande, O. Insleayi, and O. luteo-purpureum. From 
twelve to twenty large flowers are produced on one scape in the early months of the year, just when most Orchids are 
beginning to rouse themselves from their winter sleep. At such a season as this, when the eye cannot be solaced with 
seeing an abundance of bloom, the glowing sight of O. triumphans, with its pendulous clusters of rich, yellow flowers, 
handsomely covered with deep cinnamon blotches, is very gratifying ; besides, the flowers also possess the additional 
recommendation of retaining their pristine vigour and freshness for several weeks. This fact has led this species to be 
almost universally regarded as a valuable plant for exhibition and decorative purposes. Most Odontoglossums are 
subject to great variation in the form and colour of their flowers, as witness the almost innumerable varieties of O. luteo- 
purpureum, O. crispum, O. Pescatorei, and others; but it is a somewhat curious fact that variability is not very charac- 
teristic of O. triumphans. True, there are slight variations as in other species, but none of them are distinct enough to 
merit a name, with the exception, perhaps, of the variety known as cinctum, which appeared in cultivation about six years 
ago. According to Reichenbach, this variety has a fine inflorescence, the yellow sepals and petals being decorated with 
maroon blotches, while white and maroon combined are the prevailing colours of the unusually broad lip. 
O. triumphans is a native of the Cordilleras of Columbia, where it exists at elevations varying from 6000 to 
10,000 feet above sea level. M. Linden was the first to discover it near Pamplona about the year 1842, and it was 
subsequently also found by Warscewicz, who thinking it to be O. Hallii 
an Ecuadorean species first discovered in 1837, 
but lost to cultivation until about 1865—sent plants of it to Europe under that name; this circumstance led to the two 
species being confounded with each other for some years. 
Growing at such elevations as those mentioned above, it is evident that O. triumphans will require to be grown in 
anything but a warm atmosphere ; indeed, it is one of the coolest growing Odontoglots known, not excepting O. crispum 
and O, Pescatorei, with both of which it may be grown successfully. The plants should be potted in the usual conipost 
of rough peat and sphagnum in about equal proportions, and care should be taken to keep them always clean. The 
temperature should not sink below 45—so deg. F. in the winter, but may be allowed to rise a few degrees as the warmer 
and more genial days of spring and summer approach, when the ventilation may be regulated according to circumstances, 
During the period of growth the plants may be freely watered and receive as much light as possible, without, however, 
permitting the rays of the sun to shine on them too severely—an evil which may be counteracted by the use of light 
shading at the hottest hours of the day. 
Our plate was taken from a plant in the collection of T. R. Watt, Esq., The Briars, Chislehurst, 
