July 20, 1882. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
59 
relatives from warmer regions, and the'r beautiful flowers can be 
viewed without enduring the oppressively hot and moist atmo¬ 
sphere needed by natives of tropical climates. The majority, too, 
are of comparatively easy cultivation, fl jwering freely and regu¬ 
larly—recommendations of inestimable value. Amongst these 
cool-house Orchids Odontoglossums bold an important position 
numerically, and for the beauty distinguishing the flowers of 
many species, and in most establishments where Orchids are 
especially encouraged, the Odontoglossum house is by no means 
the least interesting or least attractive. Indeed, in many gar¬ 
dens where the tropical members of the family receive little atten¬ 
tion it is becoming quite common to find a small and probably 
unpretentious house devoted to the Odontoglots and some of the 
other Orchids that thrive in their company. It is true we 
have not the brilliant colours that mark the occupants of the 
South American and East Indian houses, but it can safely be 
asserted that none of those excel their les9 gaudy relatives in 
delicacy of hues, semi-transparent or wax-like substance, or grace¬ 
ful forms. For bouquets or general decorative purposes the 
flowers of some of the Odontoglossums are unrivalled both in 
beauty and endurance, and foremost amongst these must be 
named that superb Orchid 
0. Alexandra , which well deserves first attention in noting the 
best forms of the genus. It may be remembered by some readers 
Fig. 13.— ODOXTOGLOSSUM ROSSI VAR. 
that this is one of the Royal Horticultural Society’s introductions 
through their collector Mr. Weir, who found it in the forests of 
Bogota at an elevation of about 9000 feet above sea level, and first 
sent plants to this country about 1864. In the following year at 
the November meeting of the Society specimens were shown and 
much admired, though plants of 0. Blunti shown at the same 
time were considered superior. It is rather interesting that Mr. 
Weir also claimed to have found the last-named, having supplied 
Mr. Blunt with plants from his collection. Unfortunately, 
although the name of O. Alexandra! is still the most generally 
accepted one in gardens, the species is considered to be the same as 
0. crispum, which was known some time previously. However, 
whatever name it bears, the plant is undoubtedly a beautiful one, 
especially some of the finer varieties that have been obtained in 
recent years. A flower of one of these from Mr. Warner’s superb 
collection at Chelmsford is shown in the woodcut (fig. 12, page 55), 
and well indicates the fine form, the breadth of sepals and petals, 
which render several varieties so remarkable. Some forms have 
the flowers pure white with very few spots, and others have the 
spots, blotches, and bars of reddish-brown or crimson very large 
and prominent. Several of the most distinct that have been im¬ 
ported have received names—as Trianae, one of the most beau¬ 
tiful ; guttatum, Warneri, and others—all possessing considerable 
attractions, and some are much larger than the example figured. 
0. Rossi .—Very different from the above, yet beautiful in no 
ordinary degree, is O. Rossi, a great favourite with all Orchid 
growers, and one of the most useful of the dwarfer Odontoglos¬ 
sums. Grown upon blocks and suspended from the roof of the 
cool house it produces its flowers with great freedom, and renders 
the house gay for several weeks. Some growers, however, prefer 
