Monograph of Odontoglossum/tranche4

by James Bateman

Plate XVI

Odontoglossum læve.

Odontoglossum læve.

Plate XVI.

ODONTOGLOSSUM LÆVE.

SMOOTH-LIPPED ODONTOGLOSSUM.

O. (Isanthium) pseudobulbis subcompressis sulcatis diphyllis, foliis oblongo-ensiformibus obtuse acutis apice obliquis, scapis multifloris brevioribus, floribus laxe racemoso-paniculatis, bracteis brevibus membranaceis, sepalis petalisque oblongo-linearibus acutis planis, labelli limbo panduriformi apiculato ungui lævi obsoletissime bidentato, columnæ alis apice rotundatis crispis basi planis. Lindl.

Odontoglossum læve, Lindl. in Bot. Reg. (1844), t. 39; L. Fol. Orch. n. 52.

Habitat in Guatemala, Skinner.

DESCRIPTION.

Pseudobulbs from 3 to 5 inches long, ovate, subcompressed, furrowed, 2-leaved. Leaves sword-shaped, obtuse, or obtusely-acute, sometimes slightly oblique at their extremities, a foot or more long, shorter than the many-flowered flower-stems. Flower-stems loosely branched, 2 to 3 feet long, rather drooping, bearing from 20 to (sometimes) 100 Flowers. Bracts from half an inch to an inch long, sharp-pointed, clipping tightly hold of the stem. Sepals and Petals nearly equal, oblong-linear, acute, plane at the edges, usually about an inch long, light green, transversely banded with brown. Lip with a fiddle-shaped, apiculate limb doubled back on its unguis or claw, white, changing into purple at its base, where it is sometimes very obscurely bidentate. Wings of Column crisp at the edges, plane at the base.

This is not one of the most attractive species, but its stately appearance, the profuseness with which its flowers are produced and their pleasant aroma, will secure it a place in most collections. It is common in Guatemala, where Mr. Skinner originally discovered it, and it probably extends as far as Mexico, where the nearly allied species (O. Reichenheimii), figured in the preceding Plate, is found. As it is only met with at a great elevation, it must be treated as a very "cool" Orchid, under which régime it will flower abundantly in the spring months. The chief danger to be guarded against is that of its exhausting itself—like many species of Phalænopsis—by over-much flowering, and to prevent which it is of course only necessary to break off some of the scapes.

Dissections.—1. Lip, seen in front; 2. Lip and column, seen sideways: magnified.

Plate XVII

Odontoglossum atropurpureum.

Odontoglossum atropurpureum.

Plate XVII.

ODONTOGLOSSUM LUTEO-PURPUREUM.

YELLOW AND BROWN ODONTOGLOSSUM.

O. (Euodontoglossum) pseudobulbis ovatis subcompressis diphyllis, foliis ensiformibus racemis multifloris nutantibus subæqualibus, bracteis ovatis acutis squamæformibus, pedicellis internodiis æquantibus, sepalis petalisque subæqualibus oblongo-lanceolatis acuminatis, labelli breviter unguiculati lateribus planis, limbo subpanduriformi antice lacero-serrulato, cristâ ad basin multidigitatâ, columnæ petalis triplo brevioris vix arcuatæ alis multifidis crinitis.

Odontoglossum luteo-purpureum, Lindl. Orch. Linden. n. 85; Fol. Orch. n. 7.

Odontoglossum radiatum, Rchb. Gard. Chron. (1864, New Plants, n. 307.)

Odontoglossom hystrix, Bateman in Gard. Chron. 1864, New Plants, n. 282.

Habitat in N. Granada, prope Quindiu, alt. 8000 p., Linden; prope Santa Fé de Bogotá, Weir, Blunt.

DESCRIPTION.

Pseudobulbs about 3 or 4 inches long, somewhat compressed, ovale, 2-leaved. Leaves sword-shaped, sharp-pointed, a foot or more long, about the same length as the many-flowered nodding Racemes. Bracts ovate, acute, scaly. Pedicels equalling in length the average spaces between the Flowers. Sepals and Petals nearly equal, oblong-lanceolate (the petals sometimes unguiculate), acuminate, of a rich chocolate-brown inside, with edges and tips of a greenish-yellow. Lip with a very short claw, fiddle-shaped, at its side-edges plane, its centre-lobe minutely serrate and apiculate, with a multitude of finger-like processes (varying in different individuals) seated on the claw, and with their bristles all more or less inclining forwards. The upper portion of the lip is white, with a brown base, which again is banded with white beneath the series of bristles, which are of a rich golden-yellow. Column only one-third the length of the petals, slightly arched, with lacerated, hairy wings nearly concealing the anther.

The vicissitudes which the name of this species has had to undergo within the last three years are full of instruction both to botanists and the public. It was first described by Lindley from wild specimens gathered by Linden in the neighbourhood of Quindiu. Mr. Weir was the next to meet with it, and he succeeded in sending to the Horticultural Society several living plants that had been obtained about 100 miles to the south of Bogotá. He also sent wild specimens in admirable condition which, not agreeing with Lindley's description, and being profusely furnished both at the base of the lip and in the apex of the column with long bristle-like appendages, led to my calling it O. hystrix (i. e. the Porcupine Odontoglossum). Messrs. Low also received the plant, through their collector Mr. Blunt, from the same locality as that where Weir met with it, and one of their plants produced flowers which—neither agreeing with Lindley's O. luteo-purpureum nor with my O. hystrix—received from Professor Reichenbach the name of O. radiatum. Subsequently many specimens flowered, no two of which were alike, though they all maintained a sort of distant family resemblance to O. luteo-purpureum of which—as the Professor himself was the first to point out—there can now be no doubt that they are all varieties.

The figure is taken from a plant that flowered in Mr. Day's collection in the autumn of 1865, the flowers of which were twice the size of those of a plant that flowered with me,—but still larger varieties have since appeared in the collections of Lord Egerton of Tatton and Mr. Wentworth Buller.

The species, being found at an elevation of 8000 feet or more, requires very "cool" treatment, and should be referred to what—for reasons stated under Plate XX.—I propose to call the "Peruvian house." In this it is very easily grown, and flowers freely.

The markings in the dried specimens being much deeper than in the fresh flowers, led Dr. Lindley to give it a name (O. luteo-purpureum) which is scarcely applicable to any variety that has yet appeared,—no purple tints having been observed.

Dissections.—1. Front view of lip and column; 2. Side view of ditto: magnified.

Plate XVIII

Odontoglossum Bictoniense.

Odontoglossum Bictoniense.

Plate XVIII.

ODONTOGLOSSUM BICTONIENSE.

THE BICTON ODONTOGLOSSUM.

(VARIETY WITH LEAFY FLOWER-STEMS.)

O. (Leucoglossum) pseudobulbis oblongis compressis 2-3-phyllis, foliis ensiformibus undulatis patentibus scapo racemoso duplo brevioribus, bracteis herbaceis lanceolatis acuminatis ovario duplo brevioribus, sepalis petalisque subæqualibus lineari-lanceolatis maculatis, labelli ungue bilamellato limbo cordato acuminato undulato, columnæ alis transverse oblongis integris.

Cyrtochilum Bictoniense, Bateman, Orch. Mex. et Gua. t. 6.

Zygopetalum Africanum, Bot. Mag. t. 3812.

Habitat in Guatemala, Skinner; circa 6-7000 ped. alt.

DESCRIPTION.

Pseudobulbs oblong, 3 to 6 inches long, somewhat compressed, bearing 2 or 3 Leaves, which are sword-shaped, spread open, much shorter than the upright purple many-flowered Scape. The latter, in its normal state, is unbranched, and destitute of leaves, but in the variety represented in the Plate has numerous branches, and is leafy at the extremities. Bracts herbaceous, lanceolate, acuminate, not half the length of the ovary. Sepals and Petals nearly equal, linear-lanceolate, light-green spotted, or banded with brown. Lip with a bilamellate claw and a heart-shaped, acuminate limb, waved at the margin. In most cases the lip is white or nearly so, in others it has more or less of a rosy or purplish tint. Column-wings transversely oblong, entire.

The Plate represents a remarkable state of this now well-known plant, which I have observed only in the collection of Mr. Aspinall Turner, of Pendlebury House, near Manchester. In its normal or ordinary condition O. Bictoniense produces—in the winter months—simple, upright flower-stems, but in Mr. Turner's plant the stems are branched, and, what is still more extraordinary, are leafy at their extremities! Nor was this peculiarity confined to the growth of a single season, for it has already reappeared at least three years in succession! It produces a very singular effect, though it can hardly be said to add to the beauty of the plant.

O. Bictoniense, so called after Lady Rolle, of Bicton, in Devonshire, was the earliest species of this popular genus that ever reached England alive. It also formed a portion of the first box of Orchids that I ever received from Guatemala, whence they were sent to me in 1835 by my invaluable friend George Ure Skinner, now (1867) alas!—most suddenly and unexpectedly—numbered with the dead!

This is not the place for a memoir of that generous and enthusiastic spirit;—let it suffice to state that Mr. Skinner was on his way to Guatemala for a final visit, when he was attacked by yellow-fever early in February last on the Isthmus of Panama, and carried off after three days' illness! He was collecting plants on the Saturday before his death, and on the Wednesday he was a corpse! He was in his 63rd year, and had he but been permitted to return to England, would have crossed the Atlantic exactly forty times! He was the discoverer of O. grande and O. Uro-Skinneri, already figured in this work, and of at least fifty other Orchids, including the well-known Lycaste Skinneri perhaps the most useful and popular of its tribe.

Dissections.—1. Lip and column, seen sideways; 2. Ditto ditto, seen in front: magnified.

Plate XIX

Odontoglossum Alexandræ. (Weirs variety)

Odontoglossum Alexandræ. (Weirs variety)

Plate XIX.

ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRÆ.

PRINCESS OF WALES' ODONTOGLOSSUM

(WHITE, OR WEIR'S VARIETY).

Of this charming Odontoglossum, which I had the honour to dedicate to H.R.H. the Princess of Wales, there appear to be innumerable varieties. Of these some—like the one figured at Plate XIV.—have crimson spots, others again are spotted with brown, while a third section—like the one represented in the Plate—have flowers of the purest white, relieved only by the rich golden crest of the lip. An excellent example of the latter variety was sent to me nearly two years ago by Mr. Paterson, of Ashville, Partrickhill, near Glasgow, and from this Mr. Fitch's drawing was obtained. Since then, other specimens of the same kind have been communicated to me, especially by Mr. Wentworth Buller, Mr. Jones, of Whalley Range, near Manchester, Mr. Bull, and Mr. Dawson of Meadow Bank. The last was an admirable specimen bearing as it did on a curved stalk about a dozen perfect flowers, all of which faced the same way, so as to form a sort of natural tiara exactly suited to a lady's head and which—especially when worn on dark hair—could not fail to produce a most beautiful effect.

This variety has also flowered at the Royal Gardens, Kew, a fact that is not a little creditable to Mr. Smith's (the Curator's) energy and skill, he being compelled to grow his Orchids in houses that are very ill adapted to such a purpose. Surely the Government of this wealthy country might afford to devote a few hundred pounds to the construction of houses in which these most popular and marvellous plants might be worthily grown!

As the first specimens of the white variety of O. Alexandræ were collected by Mr. Weir, it is only fitting that his name should be associated with it, just as the name of his rival Mr. Blunt has been connected with the variety distinguished by its crimson spots. Plants of both frequently acquire a reddish tint both in their bulbs and leaves, a tint which, wherever it occurs, is a sure criterion by which O. Alexandræ may be distinguished from other Odontoglossa that closely resemble it in habit.

O. Alexandræ proves to be a slow grower, and to require the coolest compartment of the Peruvian house. If this condition be attended to, it gives no trouble whatever, and produces its exceedingly durable flowers very freely indeed.

Dr. Triana met with it on the trunks of very large trees with dense foliage, ten leagues from Bogotá, and also at Pacho.

Dissections.—1. Lip and column, seen in front; 2. Ditto, seen sideways: magnified.

Plate XX

Odontoglossum maculatum.

Odontoglossum maculatum.

Plate XX.

ODONTOGLOSSUM MACULATUM.

SPOTTED ODONTOGLOSSUM.

O. (Xanthoglossum) pseudobulbis oblongis compressis monophyllis, foliis oblongis nervosis acutiusculis, racemis subpendulis multifloris brevioribus, bracteis navicularibus herbaceis ovario brevioribus, sepalis lineari-lanceolatis acuminatis discoloribus, petalis oblongis undulatis acuminatis, labello cordato acuminato subcrenato, appendice unguis bivalvi concavâ cochleari apice liberâ bidentatâ per medium argute serrulatâ, columnâ pubescente subapterâ. Lindl.

Odontoglossum maculatum, Llave, Orch. Mex. 2, 35; Bot. Reg. 1840, t. 30; Pescatorea, t. 28; Lindl. Fol. Orch.

Habitat in Mexico, Lexarza, Barker, Karwinski.

DESCRIPTION.

Pseudobulbs narrow, oblong, much compressed, from 2 to 4 inches long, 1-leaved. Leaves lanceolate-oblong, nervose, more or less sharp-pointed, shorter than the flower-scapes. Bracts boat-shaped, acuminate, the lower ones shorter than the upper ones, nearly as long as the ovary. Racemes nodding, sometimes pendulous, 5- to 12-flowered, about a foot long. Flowers variable in size and colour, which is sometimes a brightish at other times only a greenish-yellow, spotted with brown. Sepals brown inside, linear-lanceolate, acuminate. Petals rather wide, oblong, waved, acuminate. Lip heart-shaped, acuminate, slightly crenate, with a two-cleft process forming a pair of blunt teeth at the upper end of the claw. Column pubescent, clavate, wingless.

This plant is common in many parts of Mexico, especially on the Irapæan mountains in the neighbourhood of Valladolid, where it was originally discovered and described by Lexarza, that earliest of Orchid-devotees! It was also one of the earliest species of the extensive genus to which it belongs that ever produced flowers in England. The credit of introducing it belongs to the late Mr. Barker, of Birmingham, with whom it bloomed about the year 1839, but it soon disappeared, like nearly the whole of the invaluable collection of Mexican Orchids that I remember having seen in the most splendid condition, shortly after their arrival, in his stoves. Fifteen years afterwards it was reintroduced by M. Linden, from whose establishment the figure in 'Pescatorea' was obtained, but it seems to have again been lost. Last spring (1866) I had the pleasure of seeing the species in the best possible health in Mr. Dawson's rich and admirably-managed collection at Meadow Bank near Glasgow, and from his plant, which flowered in April, Mr. Fitch's drawing was prepared. I also received specimens about the same time from Mr. Turner. Still more recently, Messrs. Hugh Low and Co. have imported it in large quantities and excellent condition, and many good varieties have already appeared, though none that I have yet seen are so fine or so richly coloured as that of Mr. Dawson. One that is now flowering at Knypersley is a dull yellowish-green.

In its native country it flowers in March, which is about the time of its flowering with us. As to treatment it will naturally be found more at home in the Mexican house, where a cool and comparatively dry atmosphere should be maintained, than in the Peruvian house, which should be suited to the species that are accustomed to a damper and—not unfrequently—still cooler climate. I have no doubt that this distinction will be found of much practical utility, for although "cool treatment" as opposed to "warm" marks a very important division still, just as among "warm" plants it is necessary to separate the East Indian Aerides from the Brazilian Cattleyas, so among "cool" plants it will be advisable to separate the Mexican Lælias from the Peruvian Odontoglossa. Nay, I apprehend that what I call the "Peruvian house" will itself have to be subdivided into two portions, one of which, i. e. the warm portion, will contain such plants as the Trichopilias, the Anguloas, and such Odontoglossa as are met with below 6500 feet, while the other or cooler portion will be suited to an innumerable multitude of glorious Orchids that are met with at a still higher elevation. Already cultivators have discovered that O. Phalænopsis and O. nævium cannot be made to thrive in the same house, for though both are "cool" plants the former—coming as it does from a lower level—requires a decidedly warmer climate than the latter, and so it will be in many other cases which are not yet so distinctly understood.

Dissections.—1. Lip and column, seen sideways; 2. Front view of ditto: magnified.