342 ORCHIDS 



Oberonia. 



require liberal moisture during the active season of growth, 

 both at the roots and in the atmosphere, but only 

 sufficient during the resting season to keep the plants in a 

 plump condition. 



OCTADESMFA. 



Bentham's name for a genus of two or three species of 

 intermediate-house epiphytal Orchids belonging to the 

 tribe Epideiidrc(r. It is from okto, eight, and dcsiiic, a 

 bundle, and is in reference to the eight ]3ollen-masses. The 

 species are natives of Jamaica and San Domingo. Flowers 

 mediocre, short!)' pedicellate ; sepals of almost equal 

 length, somewhat spreading ; petals a little broader than 

 the sepals ; lip at base of the column nearly erect ; 

 peduncle terminal, simple or slightl)- branched. Leaves 

 linear-lanceolate, distichous,, somewhat rigid, not fleshy. 

 The species are rarely met with in cultivation. They d'o 

 best in shallow pans or small teak baskets in a compost 

 of about equal portions of peat-fibre and sphagnum. 



OCTOMERIA. 



A genus of cool-house epiph)-tal Orchids, belonging to 

 the tribe Epidcndreic, and closely allied to Plciirothallis. 

 The name given by Robt. Brown is from okto, eight, and 

 vieris, a part ; in allusion to the pollen-masses. Flowers 

 whitish or j-ellowish, inconspicuous, in dense, sessile 

 clusters ; anther-bed rotundate ; rostellum short ; pollinia 

 eight. Leaves oblong, linear, or sub-terete. Stems de- 

 veloped. The plants, which are of botanic interest only, 

 require the same cultural conditions as Plciirothallis. 



ODONTOQLOSSUM. 



Rapid strides have been made during recent years in 

 the cultivation and knowledge of this family, one of the 

 most beautiful of the Orcliidccc. Odoiitoglossinn was founded 

 by Humboldt in 1815, and up to 1833 there were on!)- 

 five sjjecies known ; whereas at the present time the 

 number described is considerably be)-ond a hundred. It 

 is distinguished botanicall)- from Oiicidiiini, to which it is 



