March, 1914] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



125 



Odontoma Lucilia. 



at last produced its flowers, as evidenced by 

 the above illustration. 



The habit of Odontonia Lucilia is fairly 

 intermediate between both parents, but the 

 flower spike, which has taken about twelve 

 months to develop, appears somewhat 

 abnormal. For the first six months of its 

 existence it continued to grow strongly in an 

 erect style, but then some apparent arrest of 

 development occurred, and in consequence of 

 the vegetative habit which the spike developed 

 all hope of ever seeing any flowers was for 

 the time being abandoned. The spike carried 

 several narrow leaves and its total height was 

 thirty inches. 



After the lapse of about three months the 

 apex of the spike recommenced to grow, and 

 hope was awakened when three buds became 

 visible. These opened early in February and 

 conclusively proved the correct nature of 

 the hybrid. The flowers are produced at the 

 extreme apex of the spike, just as in the 

 Miltonia parent, but it is difficult to express 



an opinion whether this condition will be 

 maintained. It may be that this first flowering 

 is carried out in an abnormal style, and that 

 in future years the flowers will be produced 

 in larger numbers and at wider intervals on 

 the stem, or even on slightly branched stems. 



The sepals and petals are intense purple, 

 the spotting derived from the cirrhosum parent 

 l)eing still darker. Strong evidence of the 

 cirrhosum is seen in the crest and markings 

 on the shoulders of the rose-purple lip. 

 (Considering the extremely narrow lip which 

 this species has it is satisfactory to note how 

 well the Miltonia parent has succeeded. The 

 column and anther cap are both strongly 

 suggestive of M. spectabilis. 



This interesting hybrid was exhibited by 

 Messrs. Charlesworth and Co. at the Royal 

 Horticultural Society, February loth, 191 4, 

 when it obtained an Award of Merit from 

 the Orchid Committee. The Scientific 

 Committee awarded the raisers a Certificate 

 of Appreciation. 



VOL. IV, 



