302 



CASSELL'S POPULAE GAEDENING. 



0. Ixteopurpureum. — A ro"bust-gi'owing- and very 

 variable plant, possessing great beauty. Pseudo- 

 bulbs tln-ee to six inches high, ovate and compressed, 

 bearing a pair of broad dark green leaves about a 

 foot long ; scape as long or longer than the leaves, 

 many-flowered. Flowers differing much in the in- 

 tensity of their markings in diii'erent plants, and 

 measuring nearly three inches in diameter. Sepals 

 and petals nearly equal, usually rich brown, or 

 brov/nish-piirple, variously blotched and banded with 

 light yellow, the border generally well defined, and 

 of a deeper yellow ; lip somewhat fiddle-shaped, 

 chocolate at the base, white in front, where it is 

 prettily fringed, and ornamented with numerous 

 yellow bristles. In the variety sccptnan, the flowers 

 are rich golden-yellow, profusely spotted and blotched 

 mth rich cinnamon. Autumn months. New Grenada, 

 at 6,000 feet elevation. 



0. maculattdiK — This is a small-growing but very 

 beautiful species. Pseudo-bulbs oblong, compressed, 

 bearing a single oblong -lanceolate leathery leaf: 

 scape many-flowered ; sepals rich brown, the upper 

 one barred or blotched near the base with yellow ; 

 petals much broader, deep yellow, the basal half 

 more or less spotted with brownish-crimson ; lip heart- 

 shaped, tapering to a point, white, profusely spotted 

 Avith the same colour as the petals. It varies con- 

 siderably in its markings. Summer months. Mexico. 



0. memhranaceum. — A very small i^lant which 

 thrives best on a block of wood. Pseudo-bulbs small, 

 ovate, whole plant seldom exceeding six inches in 

 height ; sepals and petals white, transversely banded 

 with narrow lines of reddish - brown ; the lip white, 

 streaked the same as the petals. Spring months. 

 Guatemala. 



0. iuevium, — This species takes rank as one of the 

 most beautiful of the genus, and still remains one of 

 the scarcest. Pseudo-bulbs rather oblong, slightly 

 compressed, and wliich, with the narrow leaves, are 

 deep green ; scape many-flowered ; sepals, petals, and 

 lip narrow, beautifully crisp, and drawn out into long 

 tail-like points, snow-white, freckled and spotted 

 with purplish-rose and crimson. Its most elegant 

 flowers appear dming the summer months. Xew 

 Grenada, at 6,000 feet elevation. 



0. nebulosum. — A strong-growing plant, and a 

 profuse bloomer if ke^it in a low temperatiu'e. Pseudo- 

 bulbs ovate, somewhat compressed, smooth and pale 

 green, bearing two or thi-ee oblong -acute leaves: 

 scape arising with the young gTOwth, three to six- 

 flowered ; sepals and petals pure white, spotted and 

 barred with reddish-brown at the base ; lip white, 

 spotted and clouded over the ^-hole sui-face with 

 brown, with a patch of yellow at the base. Its large 

 flowers are produced at various times of the year. 

 Mexico, at 1C,000 feet elevation. 



0. Fescatorci. — In habit of growth and general 

 appearance when not in flower, this species resembles 

 0. Alexandra;, to which species, indeed, it is a dan- 

 gerous rival. The flowers are borne upon large 

 panicles of thirty to forty, or more : the individual 

 blooms, however, are smaller, and it may also be 

 known by its fiddle-shaped lip ; in some varieties 

 the flowers are of the purest white, stained on the lip 

 with crimson and yellow, and more or less spotted 

 with rose ; in other forms the whole flower is beau- 

 tifully tinged with flesh-colour. Spring and early 

 summer, lasting several months. Xew Grenada, at 

 6,000 feet elevation. 



0. Fhahoiopsis. — This elegant little plant belongs 

 to a different section of the genus from any hitherto 

 noticed, which includes Phalccaopsis, vexiUnrium, 

 Boczlii, &c., in which the flowers are very flat, the 

 sepals and petals small, whilst the lip is very large. 

 Pseudo-bulbs small, conical or oblong, bearing a 

 single grass-like leaf, the whole plant seldom execud- 

 ing eight inches in height, and more creamy- whit^ 

 than green. The peduncles arise from the base of 

 the pseudo-bulbs, and are not longer than the leaves, 

 bearing about two flowers, each upwards of two 

 inches across; sepals and petals white: lip broad, 

 rosy-crimson, bordered with white, and stained with 

 yellow at the base. The cool end of the Brazilian 

 House suits it best. Spring and eaidy simimer. Xew 

 Grenada, at 5,000 to 6,000 feet elevation. Xow 

 named JIUtouia Fhalcenopsis. 



0. pulchcUum, var. majus. — A free-growing plant, 

 Nv-ith oblong bright green pseudo-bulbs, bearing a 

 l^air of linear leaves upwards of a foot long ; scape 

 erect, about as long as the leaves ; scape many- 

 flowered : flowers thick and fleshy, pure waxy-white, 

 with a stain of yellow on the lip, and deliciously 

 fragrant. "Winter and spring months. Mexico. 



0. jRoezlii, now JLUton'ta lioezlil, as before re- 

 marked, belongs to the section with large flat la- 

 bellums. It is named in honour of its discoverer. 

 ~Sl. Eoezl, one of the most successful and indefatigable 

 plant collectors that ever entered on this fascinating 

 but hazardous emplo^-ment. Pseudo-bulbs slender, 

 ovate, compressed, two inches or more high, pale 

 green, bearing on the summit a pair of linear-lanceo- 

 late leaves nearly a foot long : scape slender, erect, 

 three to six-flowered, each flower measm-ing upwards 

 of thi-ee inches across : sepals and petals about equal, 

 pm-e white, the latter having a large and conspicuous 

 blotch of rich pui'ple at the base : lip large and broad, 

 obcordate, notched in front, pm^e wliite. stained with 

 yeUow at the base, and streaked with pm^ple on the 

 disc. It thrives best in the Brazilian House, but is 

 very liable to the attacks of thrips if kept in too 

 high a temperature. Autuum and winter months, 

 lasting long in perfection. Xow Grenada. 



