ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRÆ FLAVEOLUM.
[[Plate 43].]
Native of New Grenada.
Epiphytal. Pseudobulbs ovate, compressed, one or two leaved. Leaves elongate, oblong-lanceolate, acute, of a bright green colour. Scape radical, supporting a many-flowered raceme (or panicle) of showy flowers, each subtended by a small ovate-oblong acute bract. Flowers large, differing from other known forms of the species by their yellow colour, about three inches across; sepals ovate-lanceolate, acute, slightly wavy at the edges, pale sulphur-yellow; petals ovate, much undulated at the margins and irregularly toothed, of the same pale yellow as the sepals; lip oblong, the apex truncately rounded and cuspidate, the margins undulated and fimbriated, and the basal angles rounded and produced, all of a bright yellow colour, marked near the centre with about three conspicuous round reddish brown spots, and at the base with fine radiating lines of the same colour, in front of which are two divergent bars or crests. Column arcuate, club-shaped, pale yellow behind, dull brown on the inner face, and furnished with the usual toothed wings at the edge.
Odontoglossum Alexandræ flaveolum, supra.
Odontoglossum crispum flaveolum, Reichenbach fil., in Gardeners’ Chronicle, N.S. xiii., 41, 232.
This very distinct variety is one which will become very useful in the decoration of our cool Orchid houses, for as the white-flowered varieties of Odontoglossum Alexandræ and other species are now so numerous, that now before us, being yellow, will produce a good contrast, which we must have in order to make a pleasing display. Our drawing was taken from a fine example in the collection of G. Hardy, Esq., Pickering Lodge, Timperley, near Manchester. We may add that Mr. Hardy’s is one of the largest and best collections in the North of England, since he spares neither trouble nor expense in procuring the best varieties that can be obtained. As a proof of this we may refer to the recent Manchester Whitsuntide flower shows, where Orchids are one of the prominent features, and where Mr. Hardy’s collection has frequently taken high honours.
Odontoglossum Alexandræ flaveolum is a compact free-growing plant, like O. Alexandræ itself, and produces fine drooping flower spikes which we have seen bearing fifteen expanded bright creamy yellow flowers, these continuing in beauty for several weeks. This variety is all the more useful because of its blooming in the winter months when so many of our white Odontoglots are also in flower. The plant requires the same treatment as others of its class. It was found growing on the branches of trees intermixed with Odontoglossum Alexandræ, and no doubt, as is probably the case with others of the so-called new varieties, it has originated by intercrossing with some allied species, which may have been growing near to it, and has been flowering at the same time. We hope shortly to give an illustration of the original or typical form of O. Alexandræ.
The best material in which to grow the Odontoglots is fibrous peat; they must have good drainage because they want plenty of water during the growing season, in fact the material should always be kept moist. The plants must never be over-potted, but just sufficient root room must be permitted them to secure healthy progression; over-potting, indeed, often becomes dangerous. We find that live sphagnum moss placed on the top of the peat is a great help in their cultivation, as it holds water, and there is always some degree of moisture arising from it; moreover, when it is kept in a healthy growing state it has a very neat and pleasing appearance.
Odontoglossums at Trentham.—The régime adopted at Trentham for growing Cool Orchids, such as Odontoglots, is to give them water most profusely, the cold rain-water which falls from the roof being used summer and winter, and to allow fresh air to circulate freely amongst them at all times, night and day, except in very severe weather. The natural water at Trentham, as does any other water containing lime, will, after a time, kill the Sphagnum used for potting purposes, and this is most inimical to the plants, which never thrive so well as when the Sphagnum keeps fresh and in a growing state. In respect to the Sphagnum Moss used for Orchid growing, it does not appear to be generally known that amongst the different species the best for potting Odontoglots and similar plants is a dense-growing compact kind, whose very compactness gives it a sponge-like consistency, and enables it to suck up and retain water freely. This is what the Odontoglots like.—T. M.
Odontoglossum Roezlii.—A fine example of this showy Orchid has reached us from D. Todd, Esq., Eastwood Park, near Glasgow. The spike was a particularly fine one, bearing well-developed flowers, of which the sepals and petals were white, the lower part of the latter being of a dark magenta, and the lip white, coloured with lines of crimson on the disk. Mr. Todd grows these plants remarkably well, and deserves great credit for his felicitous treatment of them, as few persons are so successful in their cultivation. There is a very good collection of Orchids forming at this place, Mr. Todd being an admirer of good kinds. At the Glasgow exhibitions his fine collection forms one of the greatest attractions of the show.—B. S. W.