58 ONCIDIUM. 



Oncidium luridum was one of the few Oncids known to Linnseus, 

 which^ as in the case of all other epiphytal orchids which he knew, 

 he included in Epidendrum under the name of Epidendrum gnttatiim, 

 his type being a Jamaica plant which Lindley believed to agree with 

 the sub-variety guttatum described above. ^'The name luridum ought 

 therefore in strictness to be abolished ; but that of guitatum applies 

 so generally to the whole genus that there would be more 

 inconvenience than advantage in the measure."! The species is 

 widely dispersed over the West Indian Islands^ the adjacent parts of 

 Central and South America, and also southern Mexico. Within this 

 extensive region it was gathered by many of the earlier botanical 

 collectors,, among whom may be mentioned Dr. Bradford (Trinidad), 

 Dr. Schomburgk (British Guiana), Hartweg (Mexico), White (Cuba), 

 McFadyen (Jamaica), whose specimens are still preserved in British 

 herbaria. It was first cultivated by Mr. Griffin, of South Lambeth, 

 in 1823, whose plant, of which the origin is not stated, was figured 

 in the Botanical Register and described and named by Dr. Lindley, 

 who failed to identify it as the Epidendrum guttatum of Linnaeus. 

 Twelve years later On. luridum was brought by Cross from Trinidad 

 to the Botanic Garden at Glasgow, and from that time to the 

 present it has probably been rarely absent from British collections. 



The variety intermedium is the handsomest of all the luridum 

 forms we have seen; it was first sent from Cuba, in 1837, by a 

 Spanish merchant of Havana to Mr. George Barker, of Birmingham, 

 but was subsequently lost; it has recently reappeared in cultivation 

 and is now in the collection of Baron Schroeder, at The Dell. Of 

 the sub-varieties, guttatum, which is properly the type, is distinct; 

 it was first imported by Messrs. Rollisson, of Tooting, in 1838, and 

 is at present in cultivation in the Royal Botanic Garden at 

 Glasnevin. 



On. macranthum. 



Pseudo-bulbs variable in size aud shape, usually oval-oblong or ovoid- 

 conic, more or less compressed, 4 — 6 inches long and 2 — 2\ inches 

 broad, diphyllous. Leaves narrowly lanceolate, acute, 15 — 18 inches long. 



t Bot. Keg. 1839, sub. t. 16. Luridum, however, is the oldest name under the right genus, 

 and such a name is accepted by many botanists, as it prevents complications and inconveniences 

 that would arise if an older specific name under a genus to which the plant is no longer referred 

 were insisted on. 



