ODONTOGLOSSUM WILLIAMSIANUM. 
[PLaTE 163. | 
Native of Costa Rica. 
Epiphytal. Pseudobulbs oval, compressed, tufted, usually diphyllous, Leaves 
ligulate oblong acute, ribbed, channelled, especially near the base. Sca proceeding 
from the base of the pseudobulb, with sheathing scales below, and bearing large 
showy flowers in a dense oblong twelve-flowered raceme. Flowers four and a half 
inches across, and about the same in depth, yellow and chestnut-brown; a 
lanceolate. acuminate, wavy, greenish yellow, transversely barred and blotched from 
base to apex with deep chestnut-brown ; petals distinctly clawed, suddenly widening 
into an oblong, slightly wavy, blunt-ended blade, fully two inches long, the claw 
and basal half of the blade covered by a blotch of light brown traversed by 
darker veins, and lobed at the anterior edge, the anterior half bright yellow; lip 
half the size of the petals, roundish, rather broader than long, with an apiculus, 
the base narrowed suddenly into a short claw, the colour a pale primrose-yellow, 
marked at the base with three or four concentric bands of very pale brown; claw 
deep red-brown, with a very prominent crest, yellow spotted with red. Colwmn 
projecting, yellow. 
_ OvontosLossum Witiamstanum, Reichenbach fil., in Gardeners’ Chronicle, %.8., 
XVL, 134, 
Of this beautiful and comprehensive genus, which now includes so many charming 
new species, our persevering and energetic collectors are chiefly introducing those of 
the Alexandre, Halli, and Pescatorei types, which are all very beautiful, and truly 
welcome to our Orchid houses. There are, however, none so showy as those of the 
Odontoglossum grande section, which are quite distinct in character, and generally 
bloom in August and September. The one we now figure, which belongs to this 
group, flowers in J uly. At first sight this plant somewhat resembles O. grande, 
but upon closer examination it will be seen that it differs considerably from that 
Species, the shape and markings of the petals, as well as the colour and crests of 
the lip, being perfectly distinct. In fact, the outline of the flower takes more 
after 0, Schliperianum, and the colouring more after O. grande. It was . exhibited 
at the Royal Horticultural Society's meeting, where it was awarded a First Class 
Certificate, The plant then shown bore a noble spike with twelve flowers, which 
's more than O. grande produces; the spike also stands up and shows itself off 
better, and the flowers are more compactly arranged on the spike. No doubt as the 
Plant gets stronger it will produce more blossoms. We have flowered it two years 
im succession at the Victoria Nursery, and it was finer this year than last, the 
Pseudobulbs being stronger, 
