364 



ORCHIDS 



Odontoglossum. 



Colombia, 1886. This has proved the most useful Odontoglossum 

 for hybridisation purposes, several most desirable additions having 

 been obtained from its use as a parent. (Fig. 117, for which 

 we are indebted to the Editor of the " Gardeners' Chronicle.") 



O. hastilabium (Lindl.). — This is a spring-flowering plant, 

 lasting in blossom about two months. It has large, pale, shining 

 green pseudo-bulbs, and broad leaves ift. long. The spike 

 is 2ft. to 3ft., or sometimes even as much as 6ft. in height, 



and much-branched, with 

 numerous very fragrant 

 blossoms, which are 

 about 3in. across ; the 

 sepals and petals are 

 of a soft creamy-white, 

 beautifully streaked with 

 transverse lines of pur- 

 plish-brown ; whilst the 

 somewhat halbert-shaped 

 lip is white, with a dark 

 rose base. A native of 

 Colombia, where it was 

 discovered in 1843, at 

 the comparatively low 

 elevation of 2500ft. ; it 

 extends upwards, how- 

 ever, to between 4000ft. 

 and 5000ft., " forming 

 large masses on the 

 surface of the ground, 

 its roots extending to 

 a considerable distance 

 among the decaying 

 vegetation. It is also 

 found attached to the 

 stems of enormous hanas, overhanging the mountain streams. 

 Under these conditions it forms large pseudo-bulbs, and pro- 

 duces panicles of flowers 4ft. to 6ft. long" (Veitch). This 

 stately species should be grown in the Cattleya-house, or, at 

 any rate, in a house about ydeg. warmer than the cool species 

 require. (B. M., t. 4272.) 



O. Hunnewellianum (7?()^f).— Pseudo-bulbs about 2in. high. 

 Leaves 6in. to gin. long. Scape i5in. to iSin. ; flowers round ; 

 sepals and petals yellow, varying in shade, spotted with dark 

 brown ; petals paler at base ; lip creamy-white, spotted with light 



Fig. 117. Flowers and Portion of Leaf 

 OF Odontoglossum Harryanlm 



(2 nat. size). 



