Epiphytal. Pseudobulbs ovate-oblong, compressed, green while young, becoming tinged with purple as they grow older, diphyllous, with one or two accessory ones from the base of the pseudobulbs, bright green. Racemes proceeding from the axils of the accessory leaves, drooping. Flowers crowded, white, beautifully spotted with bright chocolate-red, nearly four inches across; sepals lanceolate, crispy, white, with a few bold spots and blotches of chocolate-red about the middle part; petals broader and more wavy, with a solitary nearly central spot on each; lip oblong, subcordate at the base, much crisped at the margin, the apex recurved so as to produce an emarginate appearance, white, slightly dashed with yellow on the disk, where there are a few longitudinal lines and a series of radiate lines of light red-brown, and two divergent yellow crests, the margins half way down being marked by confluent blotches and a few largish spots both on the edge and on the surface towards the front. Column white, slightly spotted with brown.
Odontoglossum Alexandræ guttatum, Hooker fil., Botanical Magazine, t. 5697: Williams, Orchid Grower’s Manual, 5 ed., 229.
There are many varieties of this charming Orchid with spotted flowers, differing in the size of the blossoms and in the colour and amount of the spotting, which are cultivated under different varietal names, but the representation of the one we have now the pleasure of illustrating will, we hope, be the means of inducing growers to range some of them as forms of guttatum instead of so greatly multiplying names, which becomes inconvenient. We know that some of them are more distinct from the type than others, but the fewer names we can use the more easy and satisfactory will it be both for growers and purchasers.
We are indebted to R. Smith, Esq., Brentham Park, Stirling, for the magnificent spike of flowers from which our plate was prepared. We much regret not to have been able to represent it of its full size and its natural branching habit, but our artist has given enough to show that it is one of the most beautiful of the many named varieties. There was a fine collection of Orchids at Brentham Park, which we regret to find is to be broken up on account of Mr. Smith’s health.
Odontoglossum Alexandræ guttatum is a compact-growing plant, with lively green foliage, and it produces branching spikes furnished with many flowers. When well grown, as this plant was, by Mr. McLeod, the sepals and petals it will be seen are pure white, profusely spotted with bright chocolate-red, while the lip is white, densely spotted with the same colour. It blooms at different times of the year, according to the maturation of its growth, and lasts for six weeks in perfection if the flowers are kept dry. Too much moisture causes them to spot, so that it is better, if possible, to move them when in flower to a drier house, but while under these altered conditions the soil should be kept moist, as the plants require a good supply of fluid about their roots to prevent them from shrivelling. The best plan is to cut off the spike of flowers and to place it in water, as when treated in this way it will last a long time. It requires the same treatment as O. Alexandræ.
Lord Rendlesham’s Orchids.—We were recently favoured with a box from Rendlesham Hall, containing the following flowers:—Lycaste Skinneri amabilis. In this the flowers were very large, six and a half inches across, the petals two inches long, bright rosy crimson, the sepals pale blush, and the lip white, irregularly margined with bright crimson. Lycaste Skinneri, a fine variety, with two flowers to a scape, the sepals rose, the petals well recurved, bright rose, and the lip indistinctly spotted with bright rosy crimson. Cattleya citrina, a very large variety, the petals two and a half inches long and one and a half inch broad, canary yellow, beautifully scented, the lip bright gamboge, Odontoglossum Alexandræ, a grand variety, three and three-quarter inches across, the sepals rose coloured, both sepals and petals marked in the centre with distinct reddish-brown blotches, i.e., one blotch to each, five in all; petals almost white, lip profusely marked with small irregular spots. This is one of the most distinct varieties we have seen.—B. S. W.
High-priced Cattleyas.—At a recent sale at Stevens’s Auction Rooms, on the occasion of the distribution of the late Mr. R. B. Dodgson’s Orchids, enormous prices were realised for some of the established plants. Cattleya Trianæ Osmanii, a variety named some years ago by ourselves, realised the sum of 215 guineas, and was purchased for our own collection. Cattleya Trianæ Dodysonii realised 185 guineas, end was purchased by W. Lee, Esq., Downside, Leatherhead. We hope on some future occasion to figure both these gems.—B.S.W.