[ >3] 



ONCIDIUM LOXENSE im 



miculis longissimis flexuosis ramosis, ramulis bi-t 

 bobtusis subundulatis, lateralibus unguiculatis, pe 



ibus a fronte, columna aptera basi brachiata. 



, Fol. Orch., Oncid., p. 9 I Rchb. f. in Walp. 



5, bracteis brevibus ovatis 

 paullo brevioribus, labello 



., VI., p. 7ii ; id. in Gard. 



Pseudobulbis pyriformibus subcompressis, foliis lineari-oblongis, pan i-triflori: 



obtusis, pedicellis longis, floribus spcciosis, scpalis elliptico-oblongis 

 subrotundo basi subhastato apice excavato, callis baseos 3 parallelis 



ONCIDIUM LOXENSE, Lindl. in Paxt. Fl. Gard., II. (185 1-2), p. 

 Chron., 1884, pt. II., p. 584 et 616 ; Warn. & Will. Orchid Album, X., t. 439. 



This rare and beautiful species was originally collected on the Ecuadorean Cordillera, near Loxa, by Hartweg, and was described by Dr. Lindley, in 

 Paxton's Flower Garden, in 1852. A single plant only was observed, which is noted as having a flower-stem 9 feet long, and flowering in July. For a long 

 period nothing further was known about it until a sketch in colours was sent by the late Dr. Krause to Messrs. Backhouse & Sons, of York. Then a similar 

 sketch, and a batch of living plants, were sent to Messrs. F. Sander & Co, of St. Albans, in 1884, from which date it has been sparingly represented 1 

 tions. It is a native of the temperate region of Ecuador, and extends from about 6,000 to 9,000 feet above sea-level. It is somewhat anomalous : 

 as it has altogether the habit of the Microchila section, where, indeed, Lindley places it, yet it has an enlarged lip, which though fleshy is very different in shape 

 from the majority of its allies. Lindley places it next to his O. corynephorum, a handsome Peruvian species not yet in cultivation, though it is very different 

 in many respects ; indeed, there is no known species with which O. loxense can possibly be confounded. The flowers are large, and the colours form a striking 

 The sepals are light green, broadly barred with brown, the petals almost wholly brown except some green near the apex, the large concave lip deep 

 • the base, and the column deep crimson-purple. I am not aware if it flowered in Europe before March, 1889, at which 





date I 



nge-ycllow, with some red spots 

 living flowers for the fin 



R. A. Rolfe. 



f 



Columna fronte t 



This ornate species was introduced by us through our collector, Mr. Ed. Klaboch, in 1884, and all, the plants now 

 in cultivation are from that importation — the only lot that ever reached Europe alive. To Edward Klaboch's 

 great energy, and skill in packing and transporting, we are indebted for one of the most beautiful and charming 

 orchids in cultivation. In the mist-laden woods near Loxa, in Ecuador, this Oncidium grows luxuriantly, produc- 

 ing enormous panicles of its rich-coloured flowers. We have grown the plant in our nurseries with flower spikes 

 upwards of 7 feet in length, but in its native habitat Klaboch has gathered inflorescences more than 12 feet long; 

 these gigantic spikes were borne on colossal bulbs, with thick, hard, broad, leathery leaves. Thousands of plants had to 

 be collected, and many disappointments experienced, before we were rewarded with a few dozen living plants. This was 

 owing to their succulent condition — they grow during the greater part of the year in a shady, exceedingly moist 

 atmosphere, and the non-success of the introduction of a large number of plants was also due to the great difficulty in 

 conveying such fleshy orchids through the heat, always prevailing on the coast. 



Its season of flowering is April, May, and June ; the flowers keep in perfection for a long period, and are chiefly 

 remarkable for the conspicuous, brilliant, yellow-coloured labellum. This in some varieties is lemon, and in others of 

 a rich orange colour. It is an extremely difficult plant to establish, but when once acclimatised, of the most easy culture, 

 and succeeds admirably with the Columbian Odontoglots in a temperature of 45 deg. to 55 deg. F. 



The plants require careful potting in good peat and sphagnum moss. Water should not be allowed to settle in the 

 young growths, which are a long time developing into pseudo-bulbs. When they are finished, a diminished supply 

 of water should be given to enhance the formation of the flower spikes, or the plants will start again into active growth. 



Our plate was taken from a plant in the collection of C. L. N. Ingram, Esq., Elstead, Godalming. 



