ODONTOGLOSSUM VEXILLARIUM Ress. #. 
MILTONIA VEXILLARIA Bens. 
MILTONIA VEXILLARIA, Benth., pseudobulbis parvis anguste oblongis compressis, foliis pedalibus lanceolato-linearibus acutis, scapo gracili 4—6-flore, 
floribus maximis rosco-suffusis v. fere albidis, perianthio plano, sepalis petalisque late obovato-oblongis obtusis v. subacutis, labello maximo orbiculari apice 
bilobo, ima basi in unguem brevem contracto, ungue hastato angulis in cornua acuta adscendentia 
productis, disco paucicalloso, columna brevissima exalata. 
MILTONIA VEXILLARIA, Benth. in Journ. Linn. Soc, XVIII. (1881), p. 327 5 Benth. & Hook. f. 
Gen. Plant., IIL, p. 563 ; Nicholson Dict. Gard, IL, p. 369; Bull, Soc. Tose. Ortic., 1889, t. 11 ; Lindenia, 
V., p. 21, t. 201 (var. superba), 
(a) ODONTOGLOSSUM VEXILLARIUM, Rchb. f, in Gard. Chron. Aug. 31, 1867, p. 901; id., 1872, p. 
667, fig. 163; id., 1873, pp. 580, 644, fig. 123; Bot. Mag,, t. 6037; Jenn. Orch., t. 36 ; Batem. Monogr. 
Odont, t. 29; Rchb. f, Xen. Orch. IL, p. 190, t. 182; Fl. Mag, n.s,, tt. 73, 461 (var. rubrum.); Ill. 
y Hort., XX., p. 10, t. 113; Rev. Hort. 1876, p. 390, cum ic.; Warn. Sel. Orch., ser. 2, t 38 ; Orchido- 
phile, 1882, p. 273, cum xyl.; Le Jardin, 1888, p. 163, cum xylogr.; Belg. Hort, XXX., p. 257, t 145 
Deutsche Gartenz., 1886, p. 268, fig. 61; Warn. & Will. Orch. Alb, IV., t- 171 (var. superbum); V., 
t. 227 (var. album); VIIL, t. 388 (var. roseum); Lindenia, I, p. 31, t. 13 (var. purpurea). 
This magnificent species, probably one of the most popular cool orchids in cultivation, was 
originally described as an Odontoglossum, though at the present time it is generally regarded as a 
Miltonia, on account of its spreading lip, which does not agree with Odontoglossum. It is believed to 
have first been met with by Bowman, on the western slopes of the Andes of New Granada. It was 
originally described in 1867, from a single dried flower. For several years the difficulties attending its 
introduction proved insuperable. Plants sent by Wallis and Roezl all arrived in a dead or dying state. 
Five years later Reichenbach wrote that this fairy of the primzeval woods seemed destined to certain 
destruction in the attempt to bring it alive to Europe. In 1872, however, Mr. Henry Chesterton brought 
Icones analytic. Flos. Anthera et pollinia. over living plants, to the establishment of Messrs. James Veitch & Sons, of Chelsea, where they flowered 
during the following year, the first flower expanding on April roth, One of the plants was at once 
figured in the Botanical Magazine. Since then, owing to its discovery in other localities, innumerable 
plants have been sent to Europe, and many varieties have appeared, ranging from deep rose-pink to white. In short, the species has proved extremely 
variable, both in size and colour, It is, indeed, the queen of Miltonias, and may the day be far distant when it shall cease to grace its native New Granadan 
woods, as has so often been prophesied. R. A. Rolfe. 
Tuis extraordinary and charming Odontoglot takes a premier place among its congeners for its great beauty and variety, 
and stands unrivalled for floriferousness. The whole genus does not contain anything nearly equal to this magnificent 
species in this respect ; even small plants with two growths will sometimes produce twenty large blossoms, and we have 
ourselves grown plants that have borne three, and even four, spikes of flowers on a single growth. For a permanent 
exhibition of orchids, a supply of O. vexillarium is absolutely necessary; and as the plants flower in succession, it is 
doubly valuable in maintaining a display. Since Bowman first discovered this marvellous Odontoglossum we have 
imported at least a million plants, and yet the demand is constantly on the increase. Bowman was on a journey in 
Antioquia, and when near Frontino he discovered O. vexillarium, but since his first finding of the plant our own 
collectors have met with the same species in four other wide apart districts in Columbia. Perhaps the most distinct 
form is the var. Klabochorum or rubellum, which flowers in summer and autumn. The late Professor Reichenbach 
described the species under somewhat difficult circumstances, having had a bloom lent to him by a friend, after a promise 
was made to him under the following five heads—viz., not to show it to anybody else, not to speak much about it, not 
to take a drawing, not to have a photograph made, not to look oftener than three times at it. The above is a true story, 
and is cited to show the enormous importance of the introduction into Europe of this queen of Odontoglossums. 
Locality, which in orchids produces types, plays its freaks very plainly with this orchid. Introduced into Europe 
are three distinct forms, namely, Odontoglossum vexillarium Lehmanni, a very small-flowered variety, with a peculiar, 
undulated lip ; and O. vexillarium Klabochorum, Rchb. f. (rubellum hort.), introduced by us in 1878. For many years 
we were unsuccessful in finding a locality in which this variety existed in sufficient quantity, but of late we have been 
more successful. Odontoglossum vexillarium Klabochorum is a discovery of the late Mr. F. Klaboch. The blooms are 
small, always very dark, and the variety flowers, unlike its confréres, towards autumn. Then we come to the large- 
flowering O. vexillarium, discovered by Bowman near Medelin, in the province of Antioquia, in the United States of 
Columbia. This variety is the one mostly cultivated, and the finest of the three existing types. There are, of course, 
not two alike in colour and shape, but all of this exact type produce large blossoms. 
With respect to the culture of this grand orchid, much has been written. We have found it quite an easy 
plant to cultivate, and even a rapid grower. Care must be taken to keep it quite clean, and to water the plants only 
when they are dry. If you have any doubt about their being dry enough, wait a day longer. Always grow the plant in 
a temperature as near 60 deg. F. as possible, and close to the glass, taking care that enough shading is employed in 
the hot days of spring and summer. If the plants are kept too hot, they become infested with thrips; and in winter, 
if the temperature falls much below 60 deg. F. for any length of time, the leaves become spotted and decay at the apices. 
Reichenbach always considered this orchid a true Odontoglossum, and not a Miltonia. Odontoglossums crossed 
with Odontoglossums have now been raised in Europe from seed in several instances, but the raising of Miltonias 
crossed with Odontoglossums, although often tried, has been an utter failure. The true Miltonias come from Brazil only, 
and are not found in any other country, whereas no Odontoglossums are to be found in Brazil. 
Our plate was taken from plants in the collection of Baron Theodor Hruby, Schloss Peckau, Kolin. 
