390 



ORCHIDS 



Oncidium, 



in July. Brazil, 1872. (Fig. 131, for which we are indebted to 

 the Editor of "The Garden"; B. M., t. 5193.) 



O. cucuUatum {LindL). — A small but pretty-flowered Orchid, 

 showing considerable variety in both form and colour. The 

 pseudo-bulbs are oval, about i-i-in. long, smooth, becoming 

 furrowed with age, one-leaved. Leaf 6in. long, |in. wide, rather 

 stiff, pointed, dark green. Flower-scape erect, wiry. Sin. to i2in. 

 long, bearing from six to twelve flowers, each i^in. across ; 



Fig. 131. Oncidium Crcesus 

 (I nat. size). 



sepals and petals small, oval, concave, rose-purple; lip large, 

 spreading, two-lobed, the edges unbroken, with a small, fleshy 

 crest, white or rose, and spotted with dark purple. The flowers 

 are developed in spring, and remain fresh for a long time. This 

 is one of the coolest of the Andean Orchids, and thrives best when 

 planted in shallow pans or baskets, and kept in a well-ventilated, 

 moist greenhouse. It likes moisture at the root always. A 

 native of Colombia, where it is found at an elevation of 13,000ft. 

 It is now considered as identical with O. olivaceum, but being so 



