The Odontoglossum nevadense is a very distinct and also a very rare and beautiful species which was first discovered in 1868, by Mr. G. Wallis, when travelling for Mr. Linden in the Sierra Nevada of New Grenada. It is not often met with, as there are very few plants of it in cultivation, so far as we know, but we may hope that our energetic collectors will be fortunate enough to meet with and send home a further supply of so lovely a plant. We are indebted to Dr. Boddaert, of Gand, Belgium, for the materials which have been used in preparing our illustration, the plant from which our plate was copied having been grown in his fine collection of Orchids; this was the best specimen of the kind which we have seen, and was, when in bloom, an object of attraction of which Dr. Boddaert might well be proud.
In this Odontoglossum nevadense we have a compact-growing evergreen species, with small pseudobulbs, and light green foliage; it grows about ten inches in height, and produces its spikes of elegant flowers during the spring and summer months. The sepals and petals are reddish-brown, margined and tipped with yellow; the lip is white, its side lobes spotted with brown inside. It lasts about six weeks in beauty.
This species is best grown in a pot, with rough fibrous peat as a compost, and good drainage. It should have the same treatment accorded to it as that given to Odontoglossum Alexandræ as regards water, and the temperature of the Odontoglossum house. Dr. Boddaert grew his specimen with the rest of his Odontoglots, and found it to succeed well under this régime, the plant continuing to increase in size and in value.
The following New Orchids were exhibited at the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society at South Kensington on February 12th, and were severally awarded First Class Certificates:—
Cattleya Percivaliana alba.—A most chaste and beautiful variety of this novelty, having pure white sepals and petals, and a white lip marked with a blotch of yellow in the throat. Exhibited by R. P. Percival, Esq., Birkdale, Southport.
Lælia anceps Williamsiana.—A new variety of Lælia anceps, exhibited by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., of St. Albans. The sepals and petals are pure white, of good form, and stout substance; the lip white, having a yellow patch at the base, and a yellow throat striped with deep crimson-purple.
Odontoglossum Alexandræ (crispum) aureum.—A very striking novelty, with clear yellow flowers. The sepals and petals are of a deep lemon yellow, the sepals spotted with brown, and the lip having one or two spots of a similar colour. Exhibited by F. A. Philbrick, Esq., Bickley.
Odontoglossum Pollettianum.—This plant was much admired on account of the distinct markings of the flowers. The sepals and petals were white, tinged with purple, and heavily spotted with reddish brown; the lip being wedge shaped, as in O. Andersonianum. It is, doubtless, one of the many natural hybrids between O. Alexandræ and O. gloriosum. Exhibited by H. M. Pollett, Esq., Bickley.