ONCIDIUM SESSILE. 
[PLATE 228. ] 
Native of Caracas. 
Epiphytal. Pseudobulbs oblong, compressed, costate, about’ two inches long, 
diphyllous. Leaves lorate or strap-shaped, bluntish, shorter than the scapes, papery 
in texture.  Scapes radical, lateral, stout, erect, about a foot high, supporting dis- 
tant lateral horizontal branches, on which the blossoms stand erect in two opposite 
ranks. Flowers two inches deep, one and a quarter inch across, yellow spotted with 
pale reddish brown, attached by greenish pedicels, the sepals and petals quite claw- 
less; sepals oblong obtuse, half an inch long, bright yellow, the lower half thickly 
covered with small dots of a pale reddish brown; petals similar in size, form, and 
colouring, all the parts spreading, plane, equal, and resembling each other; lip 
auricled, the auricles large, rounded, spread out, clear yellow, the front part broad, 
rounded, retuse, also clear yellow, the sides of the narrowed base in front of the 
auricles marked by a pale brownish half-moon-shaped blotch; crest hollowed out, 
three-lobed, bilamellate in front. Column white, its wings short and truncated. 
Onciprum sessttz, Lindley, in Paaton’s Flower Garden, i, t. 21; Id., Folia 
Orchidacea, art, Oncidium, No. 174; Reichenbach fil., in Walpers’ Annales Botanices 
Systematice, vi., 803; Williams, Orchid-Grower’s Manual, 6 ed., 501. 
The plant which we are now about to illustrate and describe is a very old 
Species of Oncidium—O. sessile; indeed there are but few of the present generation 
of Orchid growers who are acquainted with the plant. It 1s, however, our desire 
to illustrate for the benefit of our readers such of the good old kinds as come 
hefore us, as well as the deserving novelties. At one time there were fine specimens 
of this distinct species in various collections, though now it is but seldom seen, one 
reason being that there have been no recent importations of the plant, at least, none 
have come under our notice. Hence it is a rare plant, and, on account of its well- 
marked characteristics, it is quite worth a place with others of its class im Paap! 
Orchid houses. Our drawing does not do justice to the fine panicle of flowers either 
aS Tegards its size or length. The sketch from which our figure was derived, was 
taken from a handsome plant grown by H. J. Buchan, Esq., Wilton House, 
Southampton, where there is a fine collection of well-managed orchidaceous plants. 
Oncidium sessile is a compact evergreen species, growing about twelve inches in 
height, and having strap-shaped leaves of a light green colour. The flower scape 
ears a panicle of large pale yellow flowers, spotted in the centre with pale 
“imnamon colour; these flowers are one-and-a-half inch in diameter, and nearly two 
Inches deep, and are produced during the spring months, lasting for several weeks 
mM perfection, Ss 
