lOO 



IHE ORCHID WORLD. 



[February, 1915. 



Odontoglossum crispum Constance. 



Odontoglossum crispum Constance. 

 — Considering the immense number of plants 

 of Odontoglossum crispum that have been 

 imported during the last thirty years, and the 

 large number still to be obtained, there is 

 good evidence that this species perpetuates 

 itself by means of seed very freely in its 

 native home. But when carefully saved seed 

 is sown under the artificial conditions of 

 cultivation adopted in this and other countries 

 the result is very disappointing, for despite 

 every attention only an exceedmgly small 

 proportion germinates with anything like 

 satisfactory results. Exactly why this is the 

 case has never . been discovered, notwith- 

 standing the fact that seed of hybrid Odonto- 

 glossums, when sown under similar conditions, 

 yields fairly good and encouraging results. 

 However, with close attention success is 



sometimes attained. Our illustration shows a 

 splendid variety, with large segments hand- 

 somely blotched with rose-purple and bearing 

 the varietal name Constance ; it was raised 

 by Messrs. J. and A. McBean, of Cooksbridge, 

 who used as parents two equally fine varieties. 



Odontoglossum Cervantesii decorum. 

 — This is undoubtedly the finest variety of 

 the species, the flowers measuring nearly 

 3 inches across, the sepals and petals slightly 

 tinged with rose and marked with concentric 

 lines of reddish-brown ; the lip is large and 

 blotched with crimson. It has now become 

 exceedingly scarce, and it would be a pity if 

 the few remaining plants were allowed to die. 



