AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 393 



Oncidium. 



5lt. long, branched, many-flowered. Flowers about lin. in diameter; 

 sepals and petals chestnut-brown, tipped with golden yellow ; 

 superior lobe of the liii yellow, with a chestnut l)lotch in the 

 centre : large side lobes yellow, spotted with chestnut-brown ; 

 crest cushion-like. A summer-flowering species. Introduced from 

 Brazil in 1S26. 



O. e.vcavatum (Lindl.). — A very handsome plant, of large 

 size and of easy culture. Its piseudo-bulbs are from 3in. to 5in. 

 long, ovate-oblong, compressed, sliming green. The lea\es are 

 in pairs on the tops of the pseudo-bulbs, and there are also 

 several iVom the base of each; thev are lAft. long, liin. broad, 

 leathery and shining. The stout, branched scapes are from 3ft. 

 to 5ft. long, and bear a great numljer of bright-coloured flowers, 

 each ir.in. across : the sepals are smaller than the petals, and 

 alternate with them ; the lip is three-lobed, with se\"eral Ijroketi 

 ridges near the base forming the cres^ The colour of the whole 

 flower is rich golden-yellow, with a lew dark cinnamon spots 

 on each segment. Strong plants of this species have produced 

 as manv as a hundred flowers on one scape. Being a rolnist 

 grower, it likes plenty of pot-room, liberal suppHes of Nvater at 

 the root, and an ordinary greenhouse temperature. Beru, 1S39. 

 Syn. O. aurosuni. (Fig. 133 ; B. M., t. 5293.) 



O. flexuosum (Simi). — One of the easiest Oncidiums to 

 cultivate. It has ovate, flattened, furrowed piseudo-bulbs, ;in. 

 long, each Ijearing two oblong or strap-shaped, bright green 

 leaves, about 6in. long. Flower-spike large, branching, many- 

 flowered. Flowers scarcely lin. across ; sepals and petals \"ery 

 small, recurved, mellow, with che.-jtnut bars ; lii) yellow, with a 

 few reddish freckles, ;|in. across, reniform, with a narrowed base, 

 a pair of short lateral lobes, and a prominent, warted, cushi<jn- 

 like crest. This species flowers freely at various seasons, and 

 the blossoms remain fresh lor several weeks. It should be 

 planted in a piot or a basket, in peat-fibre and sphagnum, and 

 be kept constantly moist. It grows and flowers regularly under 

 intermediate-house treatment. Brazil, 1S18. (B. 1\I., t. 2203.) 

 There are several varieties of O. flexuosum, that difter Irom 

 the type here described in being larger-flowered or more 

 copiously spotted. 



O. Forbesii (Honk.). — One of the most ornamental of all 

 Oncidiums, but it is unfortunately rare in cultivation. The 

 somewhat similar species O. irispum is often grown under this 

 name. O. Forbesii has oval, flattened, furrowed pseudo-bulbs, 

 with brownish, basal sheaths and leathery, dark green, strap- 

 shaped leaves about 9in. long. The scape is about ilt. long. 



