PL. 127. ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRÆ STEVENSII.
ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRÆ STEVENSII.
[[Plate 127].]
Native of New Grenada.
Epiphytal. Pseudobulbs ovate-oblong, compressed, generally in age becoming tinged with purple, diphyllous. Leaves ligulate-oblong acute, channelled towards the base, of a bright light green colour, often with one or two accessory ones from the base of the pseudobulbs. Scapes radical, issuing from the axils of the accessory leaves, and supporting a many-flowered raceme, or, in very vigorous plants, a panicle of flowers, having small acute bracts at the base of the pedicels. Flowers large, and handsomely-spotted; sepals lanceolate-acuminate, undulately recurved at the edge, white, marked with three large oblong blotches of pale cinnamon-brown, the two lower bands transverse; petals broader, ovate acuminate, the margins toothed, much undulated, the surface freely spotted all over, especially towards the margins, with the same tint of pale cinnamon-brown, the spottings forming smaller roundish or oblong dots, which are sometimes confluent, while numerous smaller ones occupy the base; lip oblong-ovate acuminate, with a deeply cordate base, and a toothed undulated margin, the disk occupied by a broad patch of yellow; the other parts white, with one large conspicuous blotch of brown near the apex, and a few smaller ones behind it, the base marked with numerous small crimson dots, radiately cristate, with two of the lamellæ elongated, and most of them marked by a crimson line.
Odontoglossum Alexandræ (crispum) Stevensii, Williams and Moore, supra.
We have had an almost endless variety of finely spotted forms of Odontoglossum Alexandræ (crispum), but this, of which we now publish a figure, is one of the most densely spotted forms that have come under our notice. It is also very distinct, not only in the tone of its colouring but also in the character of its markings, as will be seen by the accompanying plate. For the opportunity of figuring it we are indebted to His Grace the Duke of Sutherland, in whose grand collection of odontoglossums and other Orchids, at Trentham Hall, Staffordshire, it has been bloomed by His Grace’s most efficient gardener, Mr. Stevens, in whose honour it is named, and who cultivates these plants in great perfection, many wonderful examples having been exhibited by him at the London Shows. He has, moreover, always been particularly fortunate in obtaining good varieties of this invaluable decorative species, the flowers of which are turned to good account in the dinner-table and other floral decorations at the Hall.
Odontoglossum Alexandræ Stevensii is one of the bold-habited strong-growing forms of this plant, and as regards its pseudobulbs and foliage resembles any other of the more vigorous forms; like them, too, its flower spikes may eventually branch out into panicles. The individual flowers are of large size, and finely crisped and toothed; the sepals and petals are white, heavily spotted and blotched with pale sienna-brown, and the lip is white, having a large blotch of the some colour on the anterior part, and numerous smaller spots towards the base, where the yellow disk is prominent, and adds life to the colouring. This plant produced its blossoms in March, and continued for six weeks in beauty. Like all the forms of O. Alexandræ it begins to show its flower spikes as soon as the growth is completed.
This variety requires the same course of treatment as that given to this class of plants generally, and which is commonly designated and understood as “cool-house” treatment.
Calanthe Veitchii and C. Vestita.—We are always ready to record, for the information of our subscribers, anything that strikes us as likely to be interesting to them, whether the subject be an old plant or one of more recent introduction. Recently, when visiting the garden of H. Gaskell, Esq., of Woolton, Liverpool, and inspecting his collection of Orchids, we were much pleased with the sight of a house full of Calanthes. On entering the house, the charming appearance of their lovely and graceful flower spikes was almost beyond conception. The spikes were more than five hundred in number, overhanging each other, and so arranged that their rosy and white flowers ware intermixed, thus producing an effect which was indeed most beautiful. In the case of C. Veitchii many of the spikes were over four feet in length, and those of C. vestita were equally good. It is, indeed, difficult to describe or even to form any idea of the lovely effect they produced; they must have been seen to be fully appreciated. These Calanthes are invaluable as decorative plants, blooming as they do during the dull winter months—a time when the presence of flowers, especially if of cheerful colours, to enliven the too often dreary sunless periods, is doubly welcome.
There were, besides, many Lælias, Cattleyas, Odontoglossum, Phalænopsis, and a host of other good Orchids, many of them in their full blaze of beauty, and many others with their spikes showing for succession. Mr. Gaskell’s collection is making rapid strides in respect to cultivation, a state of things we are at all times pleased to see and to commend, inasmuch as it always gives one pleasure to see either Orchids or other plants well cared for, its they are at this place.—B. S. W.