November, 1915.] 



THI^: ORCHID WORLD. 



37 



ONCIDIUM PAPILIO. 



THERE was a time when the discovery 

 of a new Orchid was an event of 

 considerable importance, and it is by 

 no means surprising to find that the first 

 impression created by the sight of one so 

 curiously constructed as Oncidium papilio 

 amounted to great wonderment amongst 

 botanists as well as horticulturists. Going 

 back to 1825, when a plant, introduced from 

 Trinidad during the previous year, expanded 

 for the first time in England its marvellously 

 constructed flowers, we find the eminent 

 Orchidologist Dr. Lindley stating: — "The 

 name has doubtless been suggested by the 

 brilliant colours of the flower, its singular 

 form, which may be easily likened to the 

 wmgs, body, antennas and tongue of a 

 butterfly, and its fluttering motion when 

 hanging from its stalk, at the extremity of the 

 weak, elastic, jointed scape." 



In 1838 Sir Joseph Paxton gave an 

 illustration of this species 111 his Magazine of 

 Botaii y, accompanied with the following note : 

 — " In almost every tribe of plants there are 

 some species which attract universal attention, 

 while others are wholly overlooked or 

 regarded with comparatively little interest. 

 Amongst Orchidaceous plants there are few 

 which have been more generally admired, or 

 have become greater favourites than the 

 beautiful species here illustrated. 



" With little of the striking magnificence 

 for which some of the members of this 

 charming tribe are remarkable, there is 

 something so pleasing and interesting m O. 

 papiho that it never fails to engage the eye of 

 every lover of plants, and elicit the warmest 

 admiration of delight. It is difficult to state 

 in what particular part of the plant the attrac- 

 tion resides, since every feature is more or 

 less intrinsically interesting. Its handsomely- 

 maculated and mottled foliage, its slender, 

 wiry stem, waving gracefully with the slightest 

 agitation of the atmosphere, and surmounted 

 by what might readily be mistaken for an 

 elegant ephemera, till the observer, in his 

 eagerness to possess himself of so beauteous 

 a novelty, discovers that it is attached to the 

 plant, constituting indeed its flower, and 



playfully abraids Nature for the formation of 

 objects so very illusory, conjoined with the 

 fact that the flowers are produced in such 

 rapid succession that the plant is seldom 

 unornamented by them, will m some measure 

 account for the high and extensive favour it 

 has obtained." 



In the cultivation of this species a shallow 

 depth of compost is essential to its welfare. 

 If pots are used they must be filled quite 

 half-full of crocks ; perhaps pans are better 

 suited for the accommodation of this shallow- 

 rooting plant, for they can then be suspended 

 from the roof, where they will obtain the 

 requisite amount of heat and light and 

 where, also, they will be able to send forth 

 their long spikes m the most effective manner. 

 A fairly high temperature is required, with 

 abundant atmospheric moisture during the 

 growing season ; when resting the bulbs often 

 assume a slightly shrivelled condition, but no 

 harm will occur so long as this is not carried 

 to excess. Taken on the whole, the plant 

 readily responds to the treatment given to the 

 majority of warm-house Orchids, and where 

 strong plants exist the flower-spikes may be 

 allowed to remain some considerable time, as 

 fresh flowers are repeatedly produced during 

 several months. 



Cattleya King George. — Of the many 

 attempts to produce a yellow Cattleya one of 

 the most successful has been obtained by 

 Messrs. Flory and Black, who exhibited it at 

 the R.H.S., September 28th, when it was 

 deservedly awarded a First-class Certificate 

 under the name Cattleya King George. The 

 parents are Dowiana Rosita and triumphans, 

 the latter a little-known hybrid between aurea 

 and Rex. The sepals and petals are clear 

 golden-yellow, the tips of the latter having a 

 few purple spots, while the well-expanded 

 labellum is rich crimson-red with fine gold 

 tracery. A special feature is the elegant 

 manner 111 which all the segments are 

 displayed, the petals being particularly well- 

 set. Such a result as this gives considerable 

 impetus to Orchid growing, and proves that 

 we have by no means reached the limits of 

 progress in hybridisation. 



