170 
ONCIDIUM LANCEANUM. 
with the usual treatment given to other species of the g-enus, viz. sandy peat and 
loam mixed with reduced potsherds or rotten wood. Watering it is most particular 
to guard against, as the plants are very liable to be much injured if allowed to get 
over wet at the root. A portion of the root with a leaf attached is generally suffi- 
cient to form a new plant ; this, when detached from its parent, should be carefully 
potted, observing in doing this not to put it too deep in the soil, as it is very likely 
to cause the growing bud to damp : it is also especially necessary to avoid wetting 
the bud in this dangerous state during the process of watering. The bud will push 
better and sooner if the pot be placed on a warm flue. 
The plant in a flowerless state is easily recognised from any of the other species, 
by the greenish yellow colour of the roots, and the spotted faintly striated leaves. 
Dr. Lindley has very justly named it in honour of Mr. Lance, who resided some 
time in Surinam. Previous to his bringing plants to this country Mr. L. has given the 
following account of its discovery, &c., which we borrow from the Sot. Reg. 1887. 
" * The first specimen of this splendid Epiphyte I discovered, was growing on the 
trunk of a large Tamarind tree, in a noble avenue of those trees close to the 
Government House in Surinam. I took it home with me and planted it in a pot 
filled with rotten pieces of wood and a little light earth ; but though it remained 
alive and flowered once or twice, it did not thrive, but wasted away and became less. 
I afterwards found a great number of plants in different parts of the colony ; they 
were generally attached to the stems or branches of the Tamarind, the Sapodilla, 
or the Calabash trees, appearing to prefer those to any other ; however, on being 
tied to the branches of the Orange^ the Soursop^ the Mammee, and even the 
Brugmansia arhorea, it grew well upon any of them and produced vigorous stems, 
with upwards of twenty blossoms on each stem. The scent is extremely fragrant, 
and is retained after the flower is dried, only becoming fainter and more of a spicy 
flavour than when fresh. The plant remains in full beauty ten or twelve days, a 
long period in that climate ; and I found that it always required a shady situation 
and a living stem to grow upon, without which it would not produce its flowers in 
the highest perfection.' " 
