Jas. Bateman

“ All went well so long as the temperature of the house did not exceed 70°, but when the winter had passed away and they had to face the intense heat at which the Orchid-houses of that period were ordinarily maintained, they then quickly lost their vigour and before a twelvemonth had passed were all gone, victims—like a multitude of other invaluable plants—to our then ignorance of the conditions under which alone the Orchids of cool countries could be expected to thrive! ”

“ Professor Reichenbach has written several articles in the Gardeners' Chronicle about this plant, in one of which he deplores, and most justly, the wanton waste and havoc committed by collectors; who, instead of contenting themselves with a moderate number of specimens, gather them by hundreds, or even by thousands, thus imperilling the very existence of species which, like the present, are believed to possess only a very restricted habitat. ”

“ Indeed, I must own to a suspicion that ultimately both these genera, together with Miltonia, Mesospinidium, Aspasia, and possibly one or two others, may come to be regarded merely as sub-genera, But this difficult question is safest left in Professor Reichenbach's far abler hands. At the same time, it is not to be denied that there is such a peculiar look about the Odontoglossa, that even a non-scientific observer has seldom any difficulty in at once referring most of the species to their true position. ”

“ It is common in Guatemala, where Mr. Skinner originally discovered it, and it probably extends as far as Mexico, where the nearly allied species (O. Reichenheimii) , figured in the preceding Plate, is found. As it is only met with at a great elevation, it must be treated as a very "cool" Orchid, under which régime it will flower abundantly in the spring months. The chief danger to be guarded against is that of its exhausting itself—like many species of Phalænopsis—by over-much flowering, and to prevent which it is of course only necessary to break off some of the scapes. ”

“ Not only is the theory in question utterly rejected by Professor Reichenbach, the facile princeps of living orchidists, but the greater our knowledge of the order, the less countenance does it seem to yield to the Darwinian view. We have now become perfectly well acquainted with all the genera—we might almost say with all the species—that belong to particular countries, but it is in these that the limits of variation between the different forms are most distinctly defined ”

“ Strange to say, they were already in our grasp: the O. crispum being none other than my O. Alexandræ, while—as explained under Plate VIII.—the Cuitlauzina proves to be identical with the long previously introduced Odontoglossum citrosmum of Lindley. Whether all the botanical pressure that can be brought to bear upon our cultivators may suffice to convert O. Alexandræ into O. crispum, or change O. citrosmum into O. pendulum, is an extremely doubtful question, so strong is the hold that the erroneous names have already secured on the public mind. ”

“ Petals wider than the sepals, and, like them, of a rich yellow colour, marked with large deep-cinnamon bands and blotches, oblong, somewhat obtuse at their extremities, and slightly waved at the margin. Lip not half the length of the sepals, nearly round, whitish, with a few crimson stains near the crest, which is of rich orange-yellow, marked with deep-orange spots, and is seated on the disk of the lip; it consists of 2 large truncate processes in front, with 2 or 4 small teeth at its base; its auricles turn their edges down until they meet under the disk of the lip, and there grow together. ”

“ The Plate represents a remarkable state of this now well-known plant, which I have observed only in the collection of Mr. Aspinall Turner, of Pendlebury House, near Manchester. In its normal or ordinary condition O. Bictoniense produces—in the winter months—simple, upright flower-stems, but in Mr. Turner's plant the stems are branched, and, what is still more extraordinary, are leafy at their extremities! ”

“ Neither, while we contemplate the marvellous and inexhaustible variety of form by which the order is distinguished above all its fellows, can any plead that this result is due to its ancient lineage, nor yet to the vast periods through which endless transformations are assumed to have been continually taking place, because Orchids—according to geologic reckoning—are but a thing of yesterday, and have never been found in a fossil state. ”

“ A fresh field was opened to the enterprise of collectors, the spirits of cultivators revived, and the hopes of botanists mounted high. Foremost among the spoils that we sought to secure, stood the various members of the genus Odontoglossum, which from the days of Humboldt [1] and Lexarza, was known to abound in species pre-eminent for the loveliness and delicacy of their flowers but which had hitherto mocked the utmost efforts of our most skilful growers. For although (thanks to the labours of Warczewitz and Lobb) the Horticultural Society and Messrs. ”

“ He also sent wild specimens in admirable condition which, not agreeing with Lindley's description, and being profusely furnished both at the base of the lip and in the apex of the column with long bristle-like appendages, led to my calling it O. hystrix (i. e. the Porcupine Odontoglossum) . Messrs. Low also received the plant, through their collector Mr. Blunt, from the same locality as that where Weir met with it, and one of their plants produced flowers which—neither agreeing with Lindley's O. luteo-purpureum nor with my O. hystrix—received from Professor Reichenbach the name of O. radiatum. ”

“ As this stately Odontoglossum is met with at a much lower elevation than any of its congeners, it is constitutionally less impatient of heat, and has therefore been able to accommodate itself to artificial conditions under which others of its race in former years have pined and died. But although in some parts of New Granada it descends as low as 2500 feet, its more frequent range is 2000 feet higher up the mountains, and it is in such situations that it attains its greatest luxuriance and beauty. ”

“ In so vast a genus we shall, no doubt, meet with many idiosyncrasies, but nine-tenths of the species will flourish under the treatment indicated above, and which may be regarded as suitable to the majority of cool Orchids. Most Odontoglossa are, like the Masdevallias, very impatient of the knife, and cannot therefore be rapidly multiplied. They have also a peculiar aversion to fumigation by tobacco, which causes their leaves to fall off. ”

“ Lip generally of a rich rosy tint, expanding from a narrow sagittate claw into a round and ample, 2-lobed disk, more than double the size of the petals, with five dwarf calli and some yellow streaks at its base. Column very short with rarely a trace of wings.
This is the handsomest of known Odontoglossa. In the year 1867 Mr. Low showed me a solitary flower, which had been sent to him by his collector (Bowman, I believe) , but a discreet silence was observed as to the locality where the prodigy had been found, nor, alas, did living plants ever make their way to the Clapton Nursery. ”

“ It may be well, once for all, to state that in the case of species that have not been long imported, and which have therefore not had time to acquire their full strength, the number and arrangement of flowers in the figures is taken from native specimens where such are available. It sometimes happens that the "wild" standard is never reached in cultivation, but it is more frequently exceeded. ”

“ Even in its native country it seems to be a shy flowerer. As it is never met with lower than 7000 feet on the mountains of Pamplona, it of course requires a cooler treatment than many of its congeners which affect a lower level. The shining surface of the sepals and petals is very remarkable, and has the appearance of being due to a coat of the best varnish. Another species, O. brevifolium, found in lofty mountains in Peru, is closely allied to this, if indeed, which I greatly doubt, it be anything more than a very high-level variety of it.
Plate XXVIII
Odontoglossum blandum. ”

“ Among the number there was a plant,—Cuitlauzina pendula he called it,—said to be of surpassing loveliness and to form an undoubtedly new genus the distinctive characters of which were minutely given. As time went on and the rage for Orchids developed itself in Europe, a keen desire was naturally felt by cultivators to add so fine a plant to their lists; but although many collectors visited Valladolid and laid hands upon nearly all the other desirable Orchids described by Lexarza, still nothing was heard of the Cuitlauzina, and on the cover of the latest number of Dr. ”

“ Day is the fortunate possessor, and which he kindly placed at my disposal for the purpose of being figured in this Work. In the Plate the flower-spike is represented as panicled because such—as in the case of all the other varieties—is no doubt its normal state; as yet however racemes only have been produced.
The treatment recommended for other Odontoglossa (see under Plate I.) will suit O. Pescatorei, which is as easily managed as any of the genus.
Dissections.—1. Lip, seen sideways; 2. Lip, front view: magnified.
Plate VI
Odontoglossum pendulum. ”

“ To the believer, however, the problem is not hard to solve. Ferns and other flowerless plants came early in the Divine programme, because the coal, into which they were to be ultimately converted, had need to be long accumulating for the future comfort and civilization of our race; while the genesis of Orchids was postponed until the time drew near when Man, who was to be soothed by the gentle influence of their beauty, or charmed by the marvellous variety of their structure, was about to appear upon the scene. ”

“ Though scarcely to be classed among the more attractive species, O. cordatum is occasionally seen at our Shows with branching scapes 2 feet high and flowers much more richly coloured than those in the Plate. It is found both in Mexico and Guatemala (whence plants were sent to me by my lamented friend Skinner) , but always at high elevations.
It flowers in the early summer without any special treatment, except that it is perhaps more impatient of water than some of its congeners.
Plate XXVI
Odontoglossum angustatum. ”

“ As yet no species has ever been met with at a lower elevation than 2500 feet above the sea-level, nor, with the exception of O. hastilabium, has any Odontoglossum been known to descend so low;—the most usual altitude being 5-6000 feet, though a higher point is often reached. ”

“ Flowers arranged on a nodding raceme (occasionally a panicle is formed) , pure white, speckled everywhere with rich crimson or brown. Bracts very short, scale-like. Sepals and Petals ovate, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, spreading equally, much waved, from 11⁄2 to (in some varieties) 2 or 21⁄2 inches long. Lip shorter than the petals, but nearly of the same form and colour, except that there is a yellow crest with a large crimson blotch in its front; at its base the edges of the claw clasp the column. Teeth of the crest yellow, small, distinct, with 2 or 3 unequal blunt lobes to each, downy. ”

“ It seems to prefer a moderate heat and perhaps a slightly drier atmosphere than that in which the New Granada and Peruvian Odontoglossa evidently delight; the compost or materials in which the roots grow, should on no account be allowed to become sodden. ”

“ The plant is still exceedingly scarce, and as it is indistinguishable in habit from many other Odontoglossa derived from the same rich country (Peru) , I would warn cultivators against purchasing any specimens that have not actually proved themselves to be true. It belongs to the cooler sections of its race, and must be treated accordingly.
Plate XXVII
Odontoglossum coronarium. ”

“ Lindley's 'Folia Orchidacea' its name may be found in the list of genera "unknown to the author." About the same time I myself addressed a letter to the 'Gardeners' Chronicle' urging some adventurous traveller to take ship for New Spain, mainly with the object of instituting another search for the tantalizing plant that had hitherto eluded our grasp. ”

“ The specimens from which Mr. Fitch prepared his drawing, flowered in the spring of 1871, in the collection of the Royal Horticultural Society;—the plants having been purchased at one of Stevens' sales, among a "miscellaneous lot" of doubtful things. The species is a free-flowerer, and sends out an agreeable honey-like odour, but in point of beauty is scarcely a rival for O. nævium. It seems to require rather more heat than the latter species, which is one of the coolest of cool Orchids.
Plate XXIX
Odontoglossum vexillarium. ”

“ This pretty species is well figured in 'Pescatorea,' where it is stated to be a native of Mexico, whence it was introduced by M. Linden, of Brussels. It was from his establishment that I derived the plant that is represented on the other side, and which flowered at Knypersley in May last (1865) . It appears to be very easily managed, requiring the same temperature and treatment as O. læve, to which it is nearly allied, and which forms the subject of the following Plate. ”

“ O. Hallii is abundant in New Grenada and Peru, but is seldom met with at a lower elevation than 8000 feet, hence it is quite at home in the coolest part of the "cool Orchid-house," in which it grows and flowers very freely indeed.
In the woodcut, a solitary flower of a larger variety of the species is represented, natural size.
Plate 22
Odontoglossum Roseum. ”

“ Habitat in Mexico, Lexarza, Karwinski, Barker.
DESCRIPTION.
Pseudobulbs clustered together, 2 to 4 inches long, compressed, ovate or almost round, smooth and glossy, 2-leaved. Leaves 6 inches to a foot long, leathery, oblong-ligulate, obtuse, rather shorter than the raceme. Raceme issuing at an early stage from the young growth, pendulous, many-flowered, rarely branched, longer than the leaves. Sepals and Petals similar in form, pure white, or in some varieties of a faint blush or rose-colour, frequently sprinkled with minute red dots, oblong, obtuse, about an inch long. ”

“ Constant humidity should be maintained by damping the shelves and floors, but the plants themselves will only require water in moderation, and what is given to them should pass away freely, for if it stagnates, or if the compost in which they grow becomes sodden, the roots will immediately decay. ”