135 



ONCIDIUM LANCEANUM. 



(Mr. Lance's Oncidium.) 

 LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



SYNANDRIA M ON AND III A. ' ORCHID A CE/E § VANDEJE. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 

 Oncidium (Swartz). Perianthium explanatum. Sepala ssspiiis undulata ; lateralibus 

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

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

 utrinque alata. Anthem semibilocularis rostello nunc abbreviate nunc elongato rostrato. Pollnia 

 2, postice sulcata caudicula plana, glandula. oblonga. Herbcs epiphytse, nunc pseudo bulbosae. 

 Folia coriacca. Scapi paniculati vaginati, rarius simplices. Flores speciosi lutei saepius maculati 

 rard albi. 



Perianth explanate. Sepals most frequently undulate ; tbe lateral ones sometimes connate 

 beneath the labellum. Petals similar in form. Labellum very large, spuiiess, 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 pseudo bulbs. Leaves leathery. Scapes panicled, sheathed, 

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



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



O. Lanceanum ; ebulbe, foliis oblongis acutis planis substriatis carnosis, scapo racemoso 

 composite erecto rigido, racemulis confertifloris ; sepalis petalisque conformibus oblongis obtusis 

 carnosis concavis margine undulatis; labelli lobo medio dilatato subcuneato integemmo basi 

 hastato : lobis lateralibus semi-ovatis, crista triloba carnosa jugoque elevato proclivi ; columna 

 alis carnosis rotundatis, anthera cristata. (Lindl.) 



Bulbless ; leaves oblong, acute, flat, somewhat striated, fleshy ; scape racemose, compound, 

 erect, rigid; divisions of the raceme crowded with flowers; sepals' and petals similar in form, 

 oblong, obtuse, fleshy, concave, with an undulated margin ; middle lobe of the lip dilated, rather 

 wedge-shaped, very entire, hastate at the base : lateral lobes half-ovate, with a three-lobed 

 fleshy crest, and an elevated slanting ridge ; wings of the column fleshy, rounded ; anther crested. 



O. Lanceanum. — -Lindl. Bot. Reg. t. 1887. — Hort. Trans, n. ser., vol. ii., t. 7- 



Descb. — Pseudo bulbs none. Roots slender, flexuose, of a greenish-yellow colour. Leaves 

 thick, fleshy or rather leathery, broadly oblong-lanceolate, from 12 to 18 inches long, of a light 

 dull-green, faintly striated, and obscurely spotted with purple. Scape erect, terete, somewhat 

 branched, and forming a rigid panicle copiously covered with large flowers. Flowers, except 

 the labellum, of an ochre or brownish-yellow colour, copiously marked with spots of a rich 

 chocolate ; labellum of a bright violet, becoming gradually deeper in colour towards the base, 

 which, together with the lateral lobes, is of a deep purple. Sepals obovate-oblong, the upper 

 one somewhat vaulted. Petals similar in form and colour, but rather more acute ; middle lobe 

 of the lip somewhat rounded, with a narrowed and lengthened base, which, towards the columns, 

 spreads on each side into a triangular tooth-like lobe. Column short, with a rounded, purple, 

 fleshy wing on each side, and capped or terminated by a purple crested anther. 



