20 ONCIDIUM, 



This Oncidiuro occurs in various parts of Central America as far 

 nortli as the Eeal del Monte_, in Mexico, especially in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the Caribbean Sea ; it also occurs in Jamaica and 

 other West Indian Islands. Dispersed over so extensive an area, 

 the species is found to be a variable one as regards the size 

 and colour of its flowers, whence have originated the numerous 

 names that have been given to it. The adopted specific name 

 is derived from Cartagena, on the Caribbean coast of New 

 Granada, from its having been first detected by the French 

 botanist Jacquin, about the middle of the last century, in the 

 dense forests in the vicinity of that port. Towards the end of that 

 century it was gathered by Swartz in Jamaica, and many years 

 afterwards by Oersted in Nicaragua, by G. Ure Skinner in Guatemala, 

 by Purdie near Santa Martha, by Wagener in Caracas, and by other 

 botanical travellers in other localities. It is one of the five species 

 upon which Swartz founded the genus Oncidiura ; it is also interesting 

 as being one of the first Oncids cultivated in British gardens, it 

 having flowered in the garden of Mr. Edward Woodford at 

 Vauxhall, in May, 1804, when it was figured for the Botanical 

 Magazine. 



On. Cavendishianum. 



Pseudo-bulbs none. Leaves from a stout rhizome, very coriaceous, 



elliptic-oblong, sub-acute, 7 — 10 or more inches long, and 2 — 3 inches 



broad, keeled at the back. Scapes stoutish, erect, 24 — 36 inches high, 



terminating in a many-floAvered panicle. Flowers fragrant, about 1^ inches 



in diameter, much undulated ; sepals and petals sometimes wholly yellow, 



sometimes yellow-green spotted with red, clawed, obovate, the petals 



a little narrower than the sepals ; lip bright yellow, three-lobed, the 



side lobes obovate, the front lobe transversely oblong with an angular 



sinus in the anterior margin ; crest with four tubercles in the form of 



a cross, and a fifth central one that is larger and more prominent than 



the others. Column wings curved, yellow spotted with red. 



Oncidiuni Cavendishianurn, Bateni. Orch. Mex. et. Guat. t. 3 (1840). Lindl. Fol. 

 Orch. Oncid. No. 134. On. pachyphyllum, Hook, in £ot. Mag. t. 3807 (1841). 

 Godefroy's Orchidophile, 1888, p. 241. 



Discovered by Mr. G. Ure Skinner in the neighbourhood of the 



city of Guatemala, and one of the first orchids sent to England by 



that gentleman, it being included in his first consignment to 



Mr. Bateman at Knypersley in 1835. A few years later plants 



were sent by Mr. Parkinson, the British Consul in Mexico, to the 



