368 



ORCHIDS 



Odontoglossum. 

 O. naevium (Zind/.). — Judging from the few examples hitherto 

 imported, this beautiful species would seem to be rare in its 

 native habitat. The pseudo-bulbs are oblong, flattened, and 

 deep green. The leaves are oblong and narrow, and of the 

 same colour. The scape is erect, bearing an arching panicle 

 of numerous somewhat star-shaped flowers ; the sepals and 

 petals are about 2in. long, and beautifully crisped or waved, 

 the ground-colour being white, profusely speckled and spotted 

 with rosy-purple and crimson markings (whence the name 



ficeviuin, or freckled). 

 ,--.., This species delights in 



a cool, moist atmosphere 

 all the year round. It was 

 discovered in Colombia 

 in 1842, at an altitude of 

 8000ft. (W. S. O., t. 7.) 



Var. majus is the best 

 variety ; it is larger, and 

 more compact in habit, 

 and is one of the rarest 

 of the genus. (Batem. 

 Monog., t. 9.) 



O. nebulosum {Lindl). 

 — A synonym of 0. ap- 

 terum. 



O. nobile {Rchb. f.).— 

 This species is justly 

 considered one of the 

 loveliest of the whole 

 genus. It has the habit 

 of O. crispum, but the 

 pseudo-bulbs are smaller. 

 The flower-spikes are long and arching, usually branched, some- 

 times bearing upwards of fifty, or even a hundred, flowers ; 

 the sepals and petals are snow-white, although varieties some- 

 times occur in which a shade of rose is to be found ; the 

 lip is fiddle-shaped, white, blotched at the base with purplish- 

 crimson and yellow. The flowers are so chastely beautiful that 

 we would choose this amongst the first in forming a collection; 

 they last a long time in perfection. The plant blooms at 

 various times, but usually during April and May. The species 

 was discovered in 1847, in the oak forests of Colombia, at an 

 elevation of about 8000ft., whence it was introduced about 185 1. 

 Syn. O. Pescatorei. 



Fig. 118. Flower of Odontoglossum 



NOBILE VeITCHIANUM 

 nat. size). 



