Odontoglossum blandum.
Plate XXVIII.
ODONTOGLOSSUM BLANDUM.
PLEASANT ODONTOGLOSSUM.
O. (Euodontoglossum) pseudobulbis ovatis 1-2-phyllis, foliis lineari-lanceolatis acutis racemis multifloris subæqualibus, sepalis petalisque cuneato-lanceis acuminatis; labelli ungue bilamellato, lamellis oblongis antice obtusangulis, laminâ ab ungue cuneato velutino ampliato ovatâ acuminatâ crispulâ, cornubus brevibus geminis ante lamellas, antepositis falcibus geminis, tumore parvo interjecto; cirrhis columnæ basi angulatæ bifidis setaceis.
Odontoglossum blandum, Rchb. fil. in Gardeners' Chronicle, p. 1342 (1872).
Habitat in Ocaña, Blunt, Roezl.
DESCRIPTION.
Plant about a span across, in a compact mass.
Pseudobulbs ovate, somewhat compressed, about an inch long, bearing 1 (rarely 2) narrow lanceolate Leaves of about the same length as the slender nodding many-flowered Racemes. The Flowers, of which there are from six to twelve (or more) crowded together on the racemes, are all expanded at the same time, and emit a pleasant honey-like smell. Sepals and Petals nearly equal, less than an inch long, lanceolate, acuminate, of a creamy white sprinkled over with numerous crimson dots. Lip about the same length as the sepals, and of the same hue, but destitute of spots except at the apex, the central portion bearing a large crimson mark nearly in the form of the letter W; the lip's base is formed of two parallel blunt lamellæ out of which springs the main limb which is broadly ovate, curled and jagged at the edges and recurved and acuminate at its extremity; at the point of junction with the unguis or claw occur two horned falcate processes, between which a small tumour is interposed, at foot of which are two short and blunt horns. Column short, bifid, angular with three or four straggling cirrhi or filaments on either side.