302 THE ORCHID REVIEW. 
date:—‘‘ . . . Whatever some of the plants sold by Linden at Stevens’ 
Rooms for Oncidium macranthum may be, all are not true. We bought 
one as O. macranthum, with a smooth, conical bulb; it is now in bloom, 
and is not O. macranthum, but (apparently) O. serratum, a species nearly 
allied in habit, but with totally different flowers. . . . We may add that 
none of the plants sent home to us by our collector from Eucador have 
the long rhizome. . . . Along with these plants an excellent coloured 
drawing from Nature was sent, which was at once identified by Professor 
Reichenbach as O. macranthum. . . . Patience will reveal much, and 
we may briefly state that it will not (apparently) have to be severely 
strained in regard to the plant we have imported as O. macranthum, as one 
of these already shows a flower-stem.”’—(I.c., p. 17). 
To the latter communication, M. Linden replied :—‘‘ I learn with regret 
that the eminent firm of Messrs. Backhouse & Son have experienced 
some disappointment. As to Oncidium macranthum, it is probable they 
may have received plants of this species which were sold at Stevens’ in 
1865, procured from the slopes of Chimborazo, and belonging to. the 
typical form of the species, the pseudobulbs of which differ from those of 
the variety hastiferum, and have some resemblance to those of an Oncidium 
allied to O. serratum, and derived ftom the same locality... 2772 
(.c., p. 29). 
Messrs. Backhouse now asked:—“ . . .. May it not prove that the 
so-called ‘typical form of the species from the slopes of Chimborazo’ 
belongs to another species altogether, as ours, now in bloom, certainly is, 
and that the var. hastiferrm is the true (t.e., typical) macranthum ? ”— 
(/.c., p. 54). 
This question can scarcely be answered satisfactorily even yet. But 
Reichenbach stated that both M. Linden and Messrs. Backhouse had 
submitted to him dried flowers of the true O. macranthum. Whether the 
spikes which they each alluded to as showing reached maturity may be 
doubted—unless indeed they proved untrue to name—for it was not until 
early in 1868 that it flowered in the collection of Lord Londesborough, 
according to the records, for the first time in cultivation, and on March 2nd 
it was exhibited at a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, and 
received a First-class Certificate. It is now well known that it grows with 
other species so similar in habit that they can scarcely be distinguished 
when out of flower; in fact, they have repeatedly been imported and sold 
for it, and the mistake has not been detected until they flowered. 
Thus this beautiful Orchid has a rather curious history, and there is 
more respecting it yet to be learnt. 
R. A. ROLFE, 
—1-) + 
