386 ORCHIDS 



Oncidium, 



With few exceptions, the species selected here are not 

 difficult to cultivate. Their special requirements are dealt 

 with under the descriptions. 



O. ampliatum {Lindl.). — When in good health this large- 

 bulbed, leathery-leaved species produces a magnificent inflores- 

 cence. The pseudo-bulbs are large, spheroid, compressed, 

 bright green, with purple spots when young, becoming blackish- 

 purple and wrinkled with age. The leaves are ift. long, 4in. 

 wide, glossy green, and leathery. The flower-spike, which 

 springs from the base of the matured pseudo-bulb, is from ift. 

 to 3ft. long, branched, and many-flowered. The flowers have 

 small sepals and petals ; the lip is spreading, reniform, wavy, 

 i^in. across, narrow at the base, with two small lateral lobes, 

 and a prominent two-lobed crest. The colour of the sepals 

 is yellow, with red spots, and there are a few red spots about 

 the base of the petals and lip, the rest being a bright yellow ; 

 the colour of the back of the flowers is much paler than that of 

 the front. This sjiecies requires a tropical temperature, plenty 

 of light, and moisture when growing. It should be planted in 

 well-drained peat and sphagnum, and may be grown either in 

 pots, in baskets, or on blocks. It is a native of Central 

 America, and was introduced in 1832. The flowers vary in 

 size, those of a form called majus being half as large again as 

 those of the type. Flowering season, March to May. (B. R., 

 t. 1699.) 



O. aurosum ^Rchb. /.). — A synonym of O. excavatum. 



O. barbatum {Lindl.). — In this distinct and variable species 

 some of the varieties have green, lanceolate petals, barred 

 with brown like the sepals. Flowers i-oin. to 2in. across, but 

 variable as to size ; sepals lanceolate, with wavy pale yellow 

 margins, barred with chestnut-brown ; lateral sepals connate for 

 half their length ; petals oblong, with wavy golden margins, 

 streaked at the base with crimson ; lower lip triangular ; lateral 

 lobes clear golden-yellow ; margins of the discal portions 

 fimbriate, and spotted with brown ; apical lobe rhombiform and 

 clear yellow; spike from ift. to 3ft. long, produced in summer. 

 Pseudo-bulbs roundish, ovoid, with a well defined central ridge, 

 one-leaved. Brazil, 1818. 



O. Brunleesianum {Rchh.f.). — A distinct and beautiful though 

 scarce species, with the habit of O. sarcodes. Pseudo-bulbs 

 erect, cylindrical, each with a pair of oblong, acute, dark green 

 leaves. The flowers are very numerous, on erect, branching 

 spikes, 150 having been produced on one spike by the plant 

 that first blossomed in England ; the sepals and petals are 



