232 



THi-; 



ORCHID WORLD. 



[July, 'y's- 



Odonloglossum triumphans. 



N 



ODONTOGLOSSUM 

 TRIUMPHANS. 



O botanical description is needed to 

 remind readers of the characteristics 

 of O. triumphans, for there is hardly 

 a collection in which it has not at some time 

 or other been cultivated. There are, however, 

 several interesting^- features concerning this 

 Colombian species that are worthy of a few- 

 remarks, for there is good evidence to show 

 that yellow Odontoglossums are receiving 

 considerable attention, and c)ne of the 

 [jrincipal means of procuring this yellow 

 colour is by working with O triumphans in 

 conjunction with suitable mates. 



Going back to early days, before the advent 

 of artificially raised Odontoglossums, we 

 find records of high prices being paid for 

 yellow-flowering varieties. The origin and 

 composition of these rarities was then Uttle 

 understood, although it was the opinion of a 

 few experts that triumphans was in some way 

 responsible for this much esteemed colour, a 

 supposition which hybridists subsequently 

 proved to be correct. The two important 

 natural hybrids of triumphans are excellens 

 and harvengtense, the former having Pesca- 



torei for its second parent, and the latter 

 crispum. Records show that more than £100 

 has been paid for examples of either of these 

 yellow-flowering Odontoglossums. 



Many plants described and sold as yellow 

 varieties of crispum were undoubtedly forms 

 of harvengtense, or loochristiense as it was 

 called in the early days. Possibly, varieties 

 of excellens were also included as yellow 

 crispums, although in this hybrid there is a 

 wider difference on account of the pandurate 

 shape of the Pescatorei labellum, as well as 

 the inclination to produce a branching spike. 

 Almost every amateur is acquainted with the 

 fact that triumphans is occasionally found 

 growing in proximity to both crispum and 

 Pescatorei, with the result that liybrids are 

 produced, these being none other than replicas 

 of many of the so-called yellow crispums of 

 bygone days. If proof is wanted of the 

 popularity enjoyed by har\'engtense and 

 excellens we have it in the Royal Horticul- 

 tural Society's List of Awards, where more 

 than 30 varieties are enumerated. 



In a few examples the yellow ground colour 

 of triumphans was the principal character 

 inherited, the blotches being almost absent, 

 and causing the owner to describe them as 

 loochristiense aureum and excellens aureum. 



