Var. Rothschildianum SANDER in Reichenbachia, ser. 2, 1, p. 47, tab. 22. — STEIN, Orchideenb., p. 401. — 
WILLiAMS, Orchid. Grow. Man., edit. 7, p. 597 (1894). — O. erispum var. Rothschildianum Horvt.; Gard. Chron., 
ser. 3, VII, p. 684 in nota (1890). 
Var. Smeeanum Roure in Orch. Rev., I, p. 205 (1893). — O. Smeeanum Hort.; Gardening World, 1890, 
p. 652. — O. Marriottianum (?) SMzx, 1. c. 1889, p. 677, cum ic. 
Var. sulphureum Reus. F. in Gard. Chron., new ser., XXI, p. 306 (1884). — STEIN, Orchideenb., p. 401. — 
WILLIAMS, Orchid. Grow. Man., edit. 7, p. 597 (1894). : 
Var. varians Reus. F. in Gard. Chron., new ser., XV, p. 330 (1881). 
Var, rufum L. Linp., infra. 
he first appearance of Odontoglossum x Wilckeanum dates from the 
year 1880; it flowered accidentally amongst a series of O. crishum 
ittecs8 cultivated by M. Massance pe Lovvrex, at his Castle of Baillonville, 
near Marche, and was dedicated to M. Witcxe, the gardener of this well known 
amateur. 
Professor REIcHENBACH, who gave the description of it the same year in the 
Gardeners’ Chronicle, suggested the idea that it must be a natural cross between 
O. crispum and O. luteo-purpureum. This hypothesis expressed by such an 
eminent orchidologist, who without refute was the most competent judge in the 
matter at that time, seemed very likely and was generally admitted; but not- 
withstanding the competence of the author of this opinion, it had only the value 
of a supposition, for if the hybrid nature of the plant were recognized, some 
doubts might still be entertained as to what plants were its parents. Ten 
years later, however, this hypothesis was fully confirmed: M. Isrpore Leroy, 
head-gardener to the Baron Epmonp bE RoruscuiLD, at the Castle of Armain- 
villiers (France) having succeeded in raising some seedlings in his hot-houses 
produced by crossing O. crispum with O. luteo-purpureum, the two species above 
mentioned, one of these seedlings flowered in 1890 and was called O. x Leroyanum 
but it was soon recognized as being identical to O. Wilchkeanum, for it could only 
be distinguished from the primitive form of the latter by a very slight diffe- 
rence in the colour of the flower, a difference hardly sufficient to constitute 
a variety. 
The success obtained by M. Leroy was doubly important, for not only 
did it confirm ReicHensacn’s hypothesis, but the plant obtained was the first 
artificial hybrid of Odontoglossum raised in a hot-house in Europe. 
In its primitive typical form, O. Wilckeanum bears a raceme of several very 
elegant flowers, which are sometimes about 3 + inches in diameter. The sepals 
oblong, the edges wavy, pale yellow ground with two or three large reddish- 
brown blotches; the petals are broader with denticulate edges, with the same 
blotches as on the sepals but smaller; the lip somewhat like that of O. crispum, 
is of a pale yellow, having at the two-thirds of its length a rather large reddish- 
brown blotch. 
Since 1880, this hybrid has flowered in different collections but has often 
(To be concluded on p. 36.) 
evVvLs 
