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ODONTOGLOSSUM (HYBRIDUM) WILCKEANUM zea 7 
VAR. ROTHSCHILDIANUM Sander, 
A natural hybrid, derived from Odontoglossum crispum, Lindl. and O. luteopurpureum, Lindl. occasionally found where the two species occur 
together. It is quite intermediate in character, but sometimes the characters of one parent predominate, sometimes those of the other; thus, when a series of 
individuals are examined, a considerable amount of variation is observed, rendering it almost impossible to assign any definite characters to the hybrid. 
Strictly speaking, hybrids may be said to have no definite characters of their own, but to present those 
of their parents in various degrees of combination, sometimes varying so considerably as almost to 
bridge over the interval which separates them. This, of course, is less obvious when the parents are very 
different from each other, and only becomes apparent when any two species have been crossed several 
times over, and perhaps the parents reversed, as is probably the case with natural hybrids which exist 
in considerable numbers. The amount of variation in the present hybrid is considerable, as a comparison 
of the following figures and descriptions will show. 
ODONTOGLOSSUM WILCKEANUM, Rchb. f. in Gard. Chron., Mar. 6, 1880, p, 298; id., May 17, 
1884, p. 640, fig. 122; id., Aug. 15, 1885, p. 205, fig. 43; id., Jan. 16, 1886, p. 76, fig. 14; Warn. Sel. 
Orch., ser. 3, t. 23; Veitch Man. Orch. Pl, pt. 1, p. 78, with fig. 
oO. SHUTTLEWORTHI, Hort., Gard. Chron., Apr. 12, 1884, Pp. 490. 
O, WILCKEANUM ALBENS, Rchb. f. ex Godefroy in Orchidophile, 1885, p. 132, with plate, fig. 2; 
Lindenia, I, p. 75, t. 35 ; O’Brien in Gard. Chron,, Jan. 14, 1886, p. 76. 
O. WILCKEANUM GODEFROY&, O’Brien in Gard. Chron., Jan. 14, 1886, p. 76. 
O. WILCKEANUM LEROYANUM. O. (Aybridum) Leroyanum, Castle in Gard. Chron., June 7, 1890, 
Pp- 704. 
Ny O. WILCKEANUM LYROGLOSSUM, O’Brien in Gard. Chron., Jan. 14, 1886, pp. 76, 77, fig. 15. O. 
Yyroglossum, Hort., Gard. Chron., May 13, 1882, p. 632, fig. 97, also with supplementary plate (not of 
Rchb. f.). 
/ O. WILCKEANUM PALLENS, Rchb. f., ex Warn. & Will. Orchid Album, V., t. 201; O’Brien in 
{ Gard. Chron,, Jan. 14, 1886, p. 76. 
O. WILCKEANUM SULPHUREUM, Rchb. f. in Gard. Chron., Mar. 8, 1884, p. 306. 
O. WILCKEANUM ROTHSCHILDIANUM, Sander, supra, 
O. CRISPUM ROTHSCHILDIANUM, Hort., Gard. Chron., May 31, 1890, p. 684 (in note). 
Odontoglossum Wilckeanum was originally described in 1880, from a plant imported by Messrs, 
Hugh Low & Co,, of Clapton, with a quantity of O. crispum. Then it came into the possession of M. Massange, of Baillonville, Belgium, after whose 
gardener, M. Wilcke, it was named. Prof, Reichenbach called it one of the most lovely Odontoglossa one could imagine, just intermediate between O, 
crispum and O, luteopurpureum. Since then many specimens have appeared in different collections, which have shown the hybrid to be a very variable 
one. O. Shuttleworthii, which appeared with Messrs. Shuttleworth, Carder & Co. in 1884, is certainly a form of the same. The variety albens has large 
blotches on a white ground, and rather broad segments. Var. pallens has much longer segments, though in other respects rather similar, The variety 
lyroglossum has much the shape of the last, but the ground colour is yellow, as is also var, Godefroy, which I have not seen. Var. sulphureum is a 
large and very beautiful, sulphur-coloured, almost or quite unspotted form, which appeared with M. Vuylesteke, of Ghent. Var. Leroyanum is an excep- 
tionally interesting one, whose portrait and history will be given in a succeeding number. Lastly, var. Rothschildianum, the subject of the present plate, is a 
magnificent form, with broad yellow sepals and petals, the former with few very large red-brown blotches, and the latter several smaller ones ; the lip has 
one large blotch in front of the disc. It will, of course, be understood that some of these varicties exist only as single plants, and may be considered as 
individuals rather than varieties in the ordinary sense. This range of variation, extending, as it does, to every part of the plant, is very instructive and 
interesting, and it is evident that in a good series of specimens the characters of the two parents would be found in almost every degree of combination, 
R.A. Rolfe. 
Icones analytice. Flos segmentis castratis fronte 
et a latere visus. Columna fronte visa. Pollinia. 
Or the numerous beautiful hybrid Odontoglossums which have been introduced within recent years, one of the most 
distinct and gorgeous is O. Wilckeanum var. Rothschildianum, which was exhibited by us at the Royal Horticultural 
Society’s Show, held in the Temple Gardens, in May, 1890. The great beauty of the plant caused quite a sensation, and 
attracted the attention of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and other distinguished amateurs present. In size, 
form, and colouring, the flowers Surpass those of any hybrid hitherto obtained, and resemble in shape the finest type of 
O. crispum. The flowers are round in outline, sepals and petals broad and massive, labellum flat and ample, the whole 
of the flower marked with various sized and very clearly defined rich crimson-chocolate blotches, on an exquisitely 
delicate primrose and cream-coloured ground, thus bringing out the stronger colouring in fine relief. The lip is similarly 
variegated, and elegantly frilled at the margins. In constitution the plant is like most hybrids—vigorous in growth and 
habit, with strong, broad green leaves, and the specimen referred to produced a raceme of twelve flowers. The plant is 
one of a series collected by our Mr. Kerbach, in the neighbourhood of Bogota, in 1883, and has been named in 
honour of Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury. 
Hybrid Odontoglossums are every year becoming much scarcer, and forms possessing marked characters of value 
are very seldom secured among importations of the present day; those connatsseurs possessing these treasures may 
feel assured that they will continue to increase in value. We have ascertained from experience in our own business that 
the average number of these distinctly marked hybrids does not exceed one in ten thousand plants imported. This 
Odontoglot may be grown in a cool temperature, such as is accorded to O. crispum, O. triumphans, O. gloriosum, etc., 
and should be potted in the best brown fibrous peat and sphagnum moss, which should be renewed as often as it 
becomes exhausted, care being taken to remove all sour peat and moss, to which the roots are highly averse, refusing to 
grow and ramify in it. Odontoglossums may be potted with care at most seasons of the year, excepting the hot summer 
months ; but this operation is best performed in the autumn and early spring, and when the new growths are about 
three inches in length. Air is at all times essential for the proper development and thorough ripening of the pseudo- 
bulbs, but especially so in hot weather. It is, however, equally important to avoid draughts, which cause the leaves 
to fold over and shrivel, retarding the proper and full development of the plant. In summer no fire-heat is necessary, 
but in winter care should be taken that the temperature does not fall below 50 deg. F. for many nights in succession, or 
the leaves will become thin and long and probably spotted. It is not wise to keep a dry atmosphere for these plants even 
in winter, and it is not possible to keep a successful humid one without heat and sufficient air, 
Our plate was taken from a plant in the collection of E, Coppin, Esq, Coningsby, Plymouth. 
