176 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[May, 1914. 



ODONTOGLOSSUM 

 ILLUSfRlSSIMUM. 



nobile Harrvaniim 



I I 



I • ■ 



Rolfe* cnspuin crispum nnbile 



Lambeauiaiium iiniuiinvillierense 



ilhistrissimiim. 



There are now so many Odontoglossum 

 hybrids that one finds it somewhat difficult 

 to express any opinion as to which are the 

 best. Some are noted for shape and thick 

 texture, others are favourites on account of 

 their pleasing colour, while not a few are 

 noted for their robust constitution. One can 

 hardly expect all these favourable charac- 

 teristics to be combined in the majority of 

 hybrids, so we must select those that most 

 nearly approach our desired condition. 



Odontoglossum illustrissimum comes very 

 close to our ideal hybrid. The above illustra- 

 tion shows an excellent variety in Mr. J. 

 Gurney Fowler's collection at Brackenhurst, 

 Pembury. It will readily be seen that it is 

 made up of only three species: — crispum, 



nobile and Harryanum. The nobile species, 

 generally known in gardens under the name 

 Pescatorei, mainly accounts for the compact 

 shape of the flower, while it is especially 

 noticeable in the lip, which is pandurate in 

 shape and white at its apex. As a misunder- 

 standing has frequently arisen regarding the 

 apex of the lip, it is advisable to point out 

 that it is the portion furthest from the centre 

 of the flower ; the base of the lip being the 

 part nearest the column, and upon which the 

 crest is formed. 



Most of the rich coloration is due to 

 Harryanum, and strong evidence of this 

 species is also to be seen in the extensively 

 developed crest, and in the light area of 

 colour situated at the apex of each petal. 



CATASETUM FIMBRIATUM. 



IT was Darwin who described Catasetums 

 as the most remarkable of all Orchids, 

 and although much additional knowledge 

 concerning them has since been acquired 

 there is little doubt that they continue to 

 furnish considerable interest to not a few 

 amateurs. The genus was established by 

 Richards in 1822, but five years before this a 

 plant is said to have flowered at Kew. In 

 1824 C. cristatum flowered in the garden of 

 the Horticultural Society, the curious nature 

 of its bloom being the subject of a note in the 

 Botanical Register, 1826. 



Among the early species to be described 

 was C. fimbriatum, which dates from 1848, in 

 which year a plant was exhibited at a Ghent 

 meeting, when the award of a Gold Medal 

 proved the high estimation then set upon it. 

 This species has recently flowered in the 

 collection of Mr. H. M. Stobart, of Biddick 

 Hall, Fence Houses, Durham, to whom it was 

 presented about two years ago by Miss Bethel, 

 of Newton Kyme, who brought it home from 

 Paraguay. This plant has been very success- 

 fully cultivated by Mr. A. Bentley, and in the 

 photograph which he kindly sends there is 

 ample evidence to be seen of its robust 

 condition, the outside of the basket in which 

 it is growing being covered with roots, 



