24 



ONCIDIUM PAPILIO. 



leaf, while in our present specimen the markings were confined to the under 

 surface, with the exception of a few obscure spots scattered along the upper 

 surface, near the margin. The scape (which arises from the base of the pseudo- 

 bulb) is from 2 to 3 feet long, round below, compressed above, with a sheathing 

 bractea.&t each joint. The long linear petals and upper sepal are of a rich purplish 

 red, with one or two transverse bands of yellow. The lateral sepals are of a 

 bright yellow, with irregular transverse bands or blotches of rich orange-red. 

 The middle lobe of the lip, which is of a bright yellow, with a broad irregular 

 border of orange-red, becomes very much narrowed posteriorly, and terminates 

 in the lateral lobes, which are small, marked with yellow, red, and white, and are 

 situated on each side of the crest. The crest is white, marked with yellow and 

 red ; above which is the short column, with its yellow, fleshy wings, the margins of 

 which are serrated, and the extremities tipped with glands. Immediately above 

 the wings are two or three slender, fleshy, processes, tipped also with glands, of 

 which the two upper ones are the longest, presenting the appearance of two 

 tentacula, with eyes at their extremities. The apex of the column is surmounted 

 by the helmet-shaped anther. The pollen-masses (like Aspasia* in our last 

 number) are connected with a gland by means of a transparent elastic appendage 

 (the caudicula). — This is one of the most beautiful, and, at the same time, the 

 most singular of all the species of Oncidium. Our drawing was made from a 

 plant in the collection of John Willmore, Esq., of Oldford ; and was selected 

 from others of the same species on account of the superior beauty of its flower, 

 which was one of the finest we have ever seen. The generic name Oncidium, is 

 from oynos, a tumour, in reference to the tubercles on the crest of the labellum : 

 its specific name, papilio, a butterfly, was given to it by Dr. Lindley, from the 

 resemblance which it seems to bear to one of those insects : and truly, when we 

 view its singular form, poised like a richly painted butterfly on the top of its long 

 and slender flower stalk, we cannot but admit that the name is well chosen. It 

 is a native of Trinidad, and was introduced in 1823. It is readily increased by 

 dividing ; the soil should be light fibrous peat, broken into small pieces, and 

 mixed with drainers, the pot being previously half filled with drainers. It 

 requires a humid stove when growing, but should be kept more cool and dry 

 when dormant. 



* The derivation of Aspasia was inadvertently omitted: it was so named by Dr. Lindley, from acnracrios, 

 to be embraced, in allusion to tbe union of the claw of the labellum with the lower half of the column. 



