366 ORCHIDS 



Octontoglossum. 

 streaks of white and brown at the base ; column white. A rare 

 plant, although introduced in 1868 from Costa Rica. It should 

 be grown in the warm house, suspended near the roof-glass ; 

 and it enjoys liberal supplies of water, except when at rest in 

 winter. (Batem. Monog., t. 24.) 



O. lasve (Li/idl.). — This is interesting chiefly on account of the 

 fragrance of its flowers. It is a robust grower, producing stout 

 scapes often 3ft. long. The flowers are 2^in. across, cinnamon- 

 brown, barred with dull yellow ; lip broad, with a tail-like tip, lilac 

 and white or pale rose. It flowers in spring. Mexico, 1841. It 

 thrives under the same treatment as O. crispum. (Batem. Monog., 

 t- 15-) 



O. Lindeni {Lindi.). — Flowers comparatively small, borne on 

 scapes 2ft. or more long, branched : sepals and petals clear 

 yellow, shaded with green at the base ; lip clear yellow, with 

 a prominent fleshy crest. Spring. Colombia, 1842-3. Syn. 

 O. platyodon. 



O. Lindleyanum {RcJib. /.). — A very variable species, un- 

 doubtedly one of the parents of some of the natural hybrids. 

 The flowers, which are somewhat thin, are 2in. to 3in. across; 

 the sepals and petals are yellow, with a few reddish blotches ; 

 the lip is three-lobed, the two lateral lobes being small, white, 

 with purple spots, and the middle lobe red-brown, tipped with 

 yellow. Colombia. It thrives if grown with, and treated the 

 same as, O. a-ispiivi, flowering in spring. Syn. O. mirandtim. 

 (Batem. Monog., t. 11.) 



O. Londesboroughianum {Rchb. /.). — A distinct plant, 

 handsome when well grown, but, as a rule, unsatisfactory under 

 cultivation. Its stout, creeping rhizome bears ovoid pseudo- 

 bulbs 3in. apart, and two-leaved. The spike is 3ft. long, 

 branching, and bears, in the autumn, numerous bright yellow 

 flowers lin. across, full, and sometimes marked with concentric 

 hnes at the base. Although introduced in 1876, and frequently 

 since then, this plant has not been a success under cultivation, 

 owing to its shy flowering characteristics. It requires strong 

 light in summer, plenty of water whilst growing, and drought 

 when at rest. (^V. O. A., t. 82.) 



O. luteo-purpureum (LindL). — In this species we have 

 a plant of robust habit, and extremely variable both in size 

 of flowers and in the intensity of their markings— so much so 

 that hardly two specimens are alike. Its pseudo-bulbs, leaves, 

 and habit, are as in O. crispum, but stronger. Flowers from 

 3in. to 4in. across ; sepals and petals equal, rich brown or 



