59 



ONCIDIUM INTERMEDIUM. 



(Intermediate Oncidium.) 

 LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA. ORCHID ACE^E, § VANDEjE. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Oncidium (Swartz). Perianthium explanatum. Sepala saspius undulata ; lateralibus nunc 

 sub labello connatis. Petala conformia. Labellum maximum, ecalcaratum, cum columna con- 

 tinuum, varie lobatum, basi tuberculatum vel cristatum. Columna libera, semiteres, apice 

 utrinque alata. Anthera semibilocularis, rostello nunc abbreviato, nunc elongato rostrato. Pol- 

 linia 2, postice sulcata, caudicula plana, glandula. oblonga. Herbse epiphytes, nunc pseudobul- 

 bosse. Folia coriacea. Scapi paniculati vaginati, rarius simplices. Flores speciosi, lutei, 

 saepius maculati, raro albi. 



Perianth explanate. Sepals more frequently undulate ; the lateral ones sometimes connate 

 beneath the labellum. Petals similar in form. Labellum very large, spurless, continuous with 

 the column, variously lobed, tuberculated or crested at the base. Column free, semiterete, with 

 the apex winged on both sides. Anther half 2-celled, rostellum sometimes short, sometimes 

 elongated, beaked. Pollen-masses 2, furrowed behind, with a flat caudicula and an oblong 

 gland. Epiphytic plants, sometimes with pseudobulbs. Leaves leathery. Scapes panicled, 

 sheathed, more rarely simple. Flowers handsome, yellow, most frequently spotted, rarely white. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 

 O. Intermedium; foliis oblongis acutis rigidis carnosis; scapo flexuoso paniculato ramoso 

 multifloro ; sepalis undulatis unguiculatis subintegris supremo rotundato subcochleato latera- 

 libus spatulatis subreflexis; petalis late unguiculatis subrotundatis crenulato-crispis ; labelli 

 lobis lateralibus nanis revolutis intermedio reniformi undulato emarginato; crista postice 

 lobis 2 crassis tuberculatis, antice callis tribus intermedio elevato elongato lateralibus diver- 

 gentibus ; columnar alis carnosis obliquis, supra margine repando-sinnato, infra auricula 

 elongata. 



Leaves oblong, acute, rigid, fleshy ; scape flexuose, panicled, branched, many-flowered ; sepals 

 undulated, clawed, somewhat entire, the upper one rounded, somewhat cochleate, the lateral 

 ones spatulate, a little reflexed ; petals broadly clawed, somewhat rounded, crenulate, and 

 slightly curled ; lateral lobes of the lip small, revolute, middle lobe reniform, undulate, emar- 

 ginate ; crest, posteriorly with two thick tuberculated lobes, anteriorly with three callosities, the 

 middle one elevated, elongated, the lateral ones diverging ; wings of the column fleshy, oblique, 

 with a slightly sinuous margin above, and terminating below in an elongated auricle. 



Descr. — Leaves from fifteen to thirty inches long, and from four to five inches broad ; scape 

 from four to five feet long, with short, acuminate, distant bractes, sheathing at the base ; flowers 



