ONCIDIUM HÆMATOCHILUM.
[[Plate 32].]
Native of New Grenada.
Epiphytal. Pseudobulbs none or obsolete, the leaves and flower-scapes springing directly from the axils of the scaly bracts which surround the crown. Leaves solitary, flat, oblong, acute, leathery in texture, dull green spotted with reddish brown, nine to twelve inches long. Scape radical, deep red, supporting a dense panicle of green spotted crimson-lipped flowers. Flowers about an inch and a half across, showy on account of their rich colouring and markings; sepals oval-oblong, yellowish green, thickly marked with irregular transverse bands of rich reddish brown; petals oblong, spathulate, wavy, similar in colour to the sepals, but less heavily marked; lip clawed, with a pair of auricles at the base, the claw and auricles deep magenta-rose colour, the front expanded portion roundish or transversely reniform, of a deep sanguineous crimson, and having the margin yellow, closely mottled with deep rose-crimson, the disk furnished with a flexuose crest shaped like the letter W, and thence raised into an eminence with a toothlet on each side. Column short, with rounded wings curved downwards and somewhat lobed.
Oncidium hæmatochilum, Lindley, in Paxton’s Flower Garden, i., t. 6; Id., re-issue, t. 26; Id., Folia Orchidacea, art. Oncidium, No. 132; Reichenbach fil., in Walpers’ Annales Botanices Systematicæ, vi., 783.
Oncidium luridum purpuratum, Loddiges, List—fide Lindley.
This is undoubtedly one of our oldest Orchids—one that we recollect to have seen in bloom with the Messrs. Loddiges, in their noble collection of Orchids, about thirty years ago. We have always been under the impression that it was one of the prettiest of the spotted Oncidiums, but, although we have occasionally bloomed it, since then we have seen it in very few collections. We were accordingly very greatly pleased to meet with a remarkably fine example of it in the collection of G. W. L. Schofield, Esq., of Rawtenstall, near Manchester, from which our illustration was taken. The plant bore two flower-spikes, one of which was three feet six inches in length, bearing forty fine blossoms, and was a most beautiful example of the species; the other was shorter, and from this our drawing was made, as our page would not afford space for the representation of the larger spike. Our readers will, however, be enabled from the description and figure to form a good idea of the beauty of this rare species when well grown. Mr. Schofield is a great lover of good Orchids, and apparently intends having a fine collection of them, as he has had houses built for the different classes; his gardener also takes great interest in the plants, and consequently they are closely looked after and well cared for.
The Oncidium hæmatochilum is a very compact-growing plant, with leaves from nine to twelve inches in height, and two and a half inches broad, of a dark green colour, spotted with brown. The sepals and petals are of a greenish yellow, mottled with crimson; the lip is of a rich crimson, edged with yellow, and spotted round the margin with magenta-rose colour. It flowers in November, the blossoms continuing for several weeks in perfection, and is a plant that will no doubt become popular, as it blooms at a time when flowers are in request. The specimen we are describing was grown in a basket in the Cattleya house, in peat and moss, which form an unexceptionable compost for it, with good drainage, and a moderate supply of water in the growing season. It is best suspended from the roof where it may obtain plenty of light, but it does not like bright sunshine, and consequently must be shaded in sunny weather.
The Oncidiums are a class of Orchids among which occur some most showy and beautiful species; while almost every colour we could mention is to be found represented among them. They come from different regions, and in consequence their treatment must vary. Some of them rank among our finest exhibition plants, as well as amongst the best for the decoration of our stoves and Orchid houses. We often see fine specimens of Oncidiums in our grand old collections of plants where there is no pretence at growing a collection of Orchids, but where they are merely cultivated for cutting purposes. What is more airy and elegant for vases than the inflorescence of Oncidium flexuosum, or even O. sphacelatum, or that of many others we could mention if space would allow? What more brilliant than such species as O. varicosum and its variety O. Rogersii, O. ampliatum majus, O. tigrinum, O. Marshallianum, or O. macranthum?
Dendrobium Findleyanum.—This plant is now (January, 1882) finely in flower in the collection of J. C. Bowring, Esq., Windsor Forest. It must be a grand specimen, as Mr. Clinkaberry, the gardener, informs us that it has one hundred and ninety-two expanded blossoms. We have never before heard of such a well-flowered specimen as this; indeed, large plants of this species are somewhat rare. It is a most curious grower, and very remarkable for its long tapering compressed and deeply nodose stem-like pseudobulbs. The flowers are large, white, tipped with rosy pink, in the same way as those of D. Wardianum, and they are produced in great profusion. It is a plant that takes but little room, and should be in every collection.—B. S. W.
PL. 33. CATTLEYA SUPERBA SPLENDENS.