222 THE ORCHID REVIEW. (SEPTEMBER, 1916. 
LALIA ANCEPS, and its numerous varieties now pushing up their flower 
spikes, must have water whenever they become dry, and enjoy every 
particle of light possible. 
GENERAL REMARKS.—Time changes all things. In the past Orchid 
collections were composed of a great variety of different species; to-day 
they comprise fewer species with innumerable hybrids, mostly of a showy 
and decorative character, and the movement will continue until Orchids 
are grown in almost every garden of any repute. Things are rather out of 
course just now, but when we, as a nation, return to our peaceful occupa- 
tions, Orchid-growing will progress to a height hitherto- considered 
impossible, as the march of improvement is only yet in its infancy. Much 
has been accomplished, but the scope for further progress is unlimited. 
es site 
ODONTOGLOSSUM ASPIDORHINUM.—This very distinct and floriferous 
Odontoglossum has been in cultivation for a good many years, but has 
never become common, and it is interesting to note that at the R.H.S. 
meeting, held on August 15th, a Cultural Commendation was given to Mr. 
F. W. Thurgood, gardener to H. T. Pitt, Esq., Rosslyn, Stamford Hill, for 
a finely-grown specimen bearing about three dozen spikes of flowers. The 
species was described by Lehmann, in 1895 (Gard. Chron., 1895, ii. p. 359); 
when the author remarked :— | 
“This is beyond any question the most floriferous Odontoglot yet 
discovered. Not only does every pseudobulb produce two flower-spikes at 
one time, but they do so for two and three years in succession, a character 
which, though common among Masdevallias, has not yet been observed 
with Odontoglossum. It is, therefore, quite:common to meet with 
comparatively small masses, which are set with twenty to thirty flower- 
spikes at one time, and as many as thirty-eight have been observed on one 
plant. Such plants look very charming and ornamental, more especially 
as the flower-spikes stand apart from and slightly bend above the short 
narrow leaves, thus forming a semi-globular mass of great beauty. I think 
scarcely anything more graceful as a centre plant at a dinner table could be 
imagined. The flowers vary somewhat in the colour of the lip, being 
sometimes pure white, but more frequently more or less spotted with lilac- 
crimson. The name is given in allusion to the peculiarly upright bent 
staminode standing like a shield above the nose-like rostellum.” 
The species is a native of Colombia, growing on trees in dense forests 
on the eastern declivities of the Western Andes of the Cauca, at some 7,300 
to 8,300 feet elevation.: It is most allied to O. constrictum, Lindl., to 
which it bears a general resemblance in character and in the shape of the 
lip. It would be interesting to try the effect of crossing it with some of the 
large-flowered showy kinds.—R.A.R. 
