ODONTOGLOSSUM WATTIANUM oy. 
ODONTOGLOSsUM WATTIANUM, Rolfe, pseudobulbis oblongo-ovoideis compressis diphyllis, foliis ligulatis acutis, pedunculo paucifloro, floribus 
stellatis magnis, sepalis lanceolatis acutis, petalis conformibus brevioribus, labello ungue angusto supra basin columnz adnato, lamina subpandurato-oblonga, 
breviter et abrupte acuminata subintegra, callis geminis subparallelis enormiter dentatis in disco, carinulis parvulis aliquot extrorsis, columna elongata trigona 
medium versus angulata, alis elongatis acutis infra leviter denticulata. 
ODONTOGLOssUM WATTIANUM, Rolfe, in Gard. Chron., March 22, 1890, p. 354; The Garden, May 3, 1890, p. 416. 
Species distincta, habitu Odontoglossi Lindleyani et O. Harryani intermedia. Folia 4—8 pollices longa. Racemus 12—16 pollices longus, quinque- 
florus. Flores ultra 3 pollices diametro. Sepala flava maculis magnis castaneis. Petala flava, maculo magno castaneo in medio, maculis parvis plurimis in 
basi. Labellum album, maculo magno purpureo supra medio, maculis parvis plurimis in basi ; calli albi. 
Crescit in Columbia. 
This handsome Odontoglossum was described by me some few months ago as a doubtiul hybrid between O. Lindleyanum and O. luteo-purpureum. 
At that time I had only a single dried flower, a pen and ink sketch, a couple of old pseudo-bulbs, and a few notes, to guide me, but on seeing Mr. Moon’s 
beautiful painting, here reproduced, I felt obliged to give up the idea of its hybrid origin, and to consider ita new and distinct species. Its real affinity still 
seems rather doubtful. If one looks at the elongate column, the stalk and crest of the lip, and the shape of the sepals and petals, it appears to be an ally of 
O. Lindleyanum, but on turning to the shape of the lip, and, to some extent, the colour, also, one sees a certain resemblance to another Odontoglossum. 
Perhaps in the future we may find out more about it, At present it is extremely rare. R.A, Rolfe. 
Icones analytic. Columna et labellum antice et a latere visa. 
A VERY great surprise awaited us when we flowered this handsome species in the spring of 1889 in our establishment. 
A few plants had been sent home to us in 1888 by one of our collectors as Odontoglossum species from the United 
States of Columbia, Odontoglossum Wattianum is unlike any other Odontoglossum in its peculiar shape and colour, 
and one of the finest of the genus. The sepals and petals are transversely blotched with chocolate-crimson ; the sepals 
broader than the petals, with a yellow-brown colour, the tips clear yellow; and the lip is white, with a large wavy blotch 
of bright claret. The base is blotched with a bluish violet hue; it has a long, slender column and a very prominent 
crest. There is a great doubt in our mind whether this Odontoglossum is a natural hybrid or a true species, but we are 
inclined to lean towards the latter theory. : 
The name has been given in honour of T. R. Watt, Esq., The Briars, Chislehurst. It is a great thing now-a-days 
to be able to introduce species of Odontoglossums absolutely new to science. Years ago, when the wilds of Columbia 
were more untrodden than they are now,'we found less difficulty, but year by year such prizes get rarer. The time is 
not far distant when home skill in hybridisation will have to supply novelties in Odontoglossums. 
It is very rare in its native habitat, and a few plants only came home, and these were found at long distances 
apart, growing in the forks of small oak trees, at a lower elevation than Odontoglossum crispum—hence we find the 
requirements of the plants are better met by growing it in the same temperature as Odontoglossum Phalaenopsis and 
vexillarium, Warscewiczi, &c. Since flowering our plants we have in vain tried to get a further supply, and it is very 
probable that no more will come to Europe. 
Taken from a plant in the possession of T. R. Watt, Esq., The Briars, Chislehurst. 
