21 



ONCIDIUM 



LINNEAN SYSTEM. 



No. 97. 



NATURAL ORDER. 



GYNANDRIA MONANDRIA, 



ORCHIDACEjE § VANDEJS. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Oncidium (Swartz). Perianthium explanatum. Sepala ssepius 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 elongate- rostrato. 

 Pollinia 2, postice sulcata, caudicula plana, glandula. oblonga. Herbse epiphytes, nunc pseudo- 

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

 ssepius 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 two, 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. luridum ; foliis oblongis acutis rigidis carnosis ; scapo paniculato multifloro ; sepalis peta- 

 lisque undulatis obovatis, superioribus obtusis inferioribus acutis ; labelli lobis lateralibus nanis 

 obtusis intermedio undulato transverso emarginato ; crista tuberculis 2 ad basin, 2 majoribus 



intermediis callisque tribus cruciatis a fronte ; columnce alis unguiculatis rotundatis brevibus. 



Lindl. 



Leaves oblong, acute, rigid, fleshy ; scape panicled, many-flowered ; sepals and petals undu- 

 late, obovate, the upper obtuse, the lower acute ; lateral lobes of the lip small, obtuse, the 

 intermediate one undulate, transverse, emarginate ; crest with two tubercles at the base, two 

 larger ones intermediate, and three callosities cruciate in front ; wings of the column unguicu- 

 late, rounded, short. 



Such is the character of O. luridum, compared with which this very handsome 

 variety appears to present so many striking features of difference, that we fully 

 expected to find it a distinct species. The leaves are shorter, more obtuse, and 

 more fleshy than those of O. luridum ; and much more resemble those of O. Ian- 



