174 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[M:iy, 1915- 



Odontinda Zenobia. 



ODONTIODA ZENOBIA. 



EVER since the first Odontioda flowered, 

 m May, 1904, there has been a 

 continual flow of novelties, more so 

 than IS perhaps necessary to sustain an 

 interest m these attractive flowers, yet, 

 although no one can say there are too many, 

 or that there are any signs of their popularity 

 decreasing, the interest is gradually passing 

 into the newer and finer varieties. It does 

 not seem to matter much how the various 

 species of Odontoglossum are combined with 

 the pretty little Cochlioda Noezliana, for 

 whenever it is used there is bound to be a 

 considerable amount of scarlet-red coloration 

 in the offspring, but to achieve the finest 

 results considerable experience in blending 

 the various component species is necessary. 



In Odontioda Zenobia we have as parents 

 two very beautiful hybrids, namely Odm. 

 percultum and Oda. Charlesworthii. The 

 first is a cross between Rolfeae (Pescatorei x 

 Harryanum) and ardentissimum (crispum x 

 Pescatorei), in which it will be seen that the 



two most plentiful and useful Odonto- 

 glossums, crispum and Pescatorei, are 

 combined with the richly coloured Harry- 

 anum. In the majority of percultums the 

 labellum is rose-coloured, doubtless due to 

 Harryanum influence, while the shape is that 

 of Pescatorei — broadest at its apex — owing to 

 this species being on both sides of the 

 parentage. A glance at the adjoining illus- 

 tration will show how this characteristic is 

 perpetuated in Zenobia. 



We must now consider the other parent, 

 Oda. Charlesworthii. The outstanding attrac- 

 tion in Zenobia is the glorious crimson-red 

 colour of its sepals and petals, this being 

 richer than that yet seen in any other 

 Odontioda. It is mainly due to the Cochlioda 

 species, and also to ardentissimum, for in the 

 making of the latter a richly blotched crispum 

 was used, and those critics who have studied 

 ardentissimums know how the influence of 

 Pescatorei makes the blotching run over a 

 much larger area than is seen in the crispum 

 parent. Another point of interest is the 

 remarkable thick texture of all the segments. 



