Plate 73. 
ODONTOGLOSSUM VEXILLARIUM. 
E-arely have we seen such real enthusiasm excited hy a new Orchid, as when Messrs. 
Veitch exhibited the lovely one which is so faithfully represented by the beautiful figure of 
Mr. Smith, and we cannot do better than add to it the glowing description of Professor 
Reichenbach fils. 
“ It is horticulture that may boast to-day. Tliat was a new red-letter day in our horti- 
cultural calendar when Odontoglossum vexillarium developed the first time its full charms in 
Europe — April 19. Some days before the flower-buds had taken a purplish tint, and finally 
the apex of the convolute lip began to appear through the expanding sepals. At length all 
these organs got free from one another, and that in a most curious manner backwards, to 
ascend once more, and presenting a flat appearance perhaps quite unique. The sepals and 
petals, and the enormous lip, three inches broad, are of a beautiful rosy lilac. The flowering 
plant has none of the radiating streaks to be seen in several of the dried specimens. An 
excellent quality of the plant is its growing very freely, and flowering extremely easy from 
those plants imported this year. — These lines were written under the impression of pleasure 
of the sight of this grand novelty at the nursery of Messrs. Veitch and Sons.” 
Like many of the tribe, Odontoglossum vexillarium varies much in its natural state ; the 
shape of the flower is diflerent in some specimens, and the colour also varies. We have only 
to add, that it received a first-class certificate from the Floral Committee of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, and that Messrs. Veitch and Sons were kind enough to permit the 
drawing to be made for illustration in our Magazine. 
Plate 74. 
DRAC^.NA SPLENDENS. 
The increased attention given to ornamental foliaged plants has induced us to figure 
another of the beautiful family of Dracaena, with some of which we have already enriched 
our pages ; and Mr. W. Bull, to whom we owe the opportunity of figuring it, has furnished 
us with the following description : — 
I)rac(B7ia splendens is a remarkably distinct ornamental stove plant, of dwarf and com- 
pact, but free-growing habit, densely furnished with short oblong recurved leaves, about nine 
inches long and four inches broad, arranged in a spiral manner, and having winged foot- 
stalks. The colour is a deep bronzy green, breaking out in the young growths into bright 
rosy carmine, the petiole and base of the leaves margined with the same colour. The 
brighter colouring appears sometimes in stripes, and sometimes occupies the whole surface, 
while the recurved character of the densely set foliage gives the plant a flat, almost table-like 
head. It is another of the productions of the South Sea Islands, and has been awarded a 
first-class certificate by the Floral Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society. 
Special prizes have been offered at some of the Spring Shows this season, especially at 
the Alexandra Palace, for plants of this description, and the result was that a larger number 
of Cycads, Palms, Dracjenas, &c., Avas brought together than we ever remember to have seen 
at any Show in the neighbourhood of London. In large places these plants are very likely 
to become more and more popular ; but we think it is a mistake to regard them as 
suitable for small places, and there is always a danger of people being carried away into 
extremes in such matters. 
