Odontoglossum

“ 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. ”

“ The column moreover, and the base of the sepals and petals, are said to be pubescent, though nothing of the kind is visible to the naked eye when the flowers are fresh. With a powerful magnifying glass pubescence may certainly be seen.
Odontoglossum nebulosum flowers at different seasons of the year, always sending up its scape at the same time as the young growth. It is of the easiest culture. [1] The figure was derived from a beautiful specimen that flowered last November in the collection of J. Day, Esq., of Tottenham, who grows this and many other Odontoglossa in high perfection. ”

“ 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. ”

“ In the eighth house we return to Odontoglossums and cool genera. Here are a number of Hybrids of the "natural class," upon which I should have a good deal to say if inexorable fate permitted; "natural hybrids" are plants which seem species, but, upon thoughtful examination and study, are suspected to be the offspring of kindred and neighbours. Interesting questions arise in surveying fine specimens side by side, in flower, all attributed to a cross between Odontoglossum Lindleyanum and Odontoglossum crispum Alexandræ, and all quite different. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ This has resulted in getting together a collection of about 12,000 Odontoglots, comprising all the best species and varieties known to cultivators. On entering the Odontoglossum house we were enchanted with the sight before us. Let the reader imagine a large house sixty feet long by sixteen feet wide, with a centre and two side tables, literally crammed with flowering Orchids, consisting of hundreds of spikes of Odontoglossums and Masdevallias, intermixed with a profusion of the beautiful Epidendrum vitellinum majus and other Orchids, and he will form some idea of the magnitude of this show. ”

“ Odontoglossum Hallii.
Plate XXI. ODONTOGLOSSUM HALLII.
COLONEL HALL'S ODONTOGLOSSUM.
O. (Euodontoglossum, Lindl.) pseudobulbis ovatis, ancipitibus 1-2-phyllis, foliis ensiformibus in basin angustatis, racemo multifloro (raro sub-paniculato) , sepalis petalisque ovato-lanceolatis unguiculatis labello oblongo acuminato lacero, cristâ baseos lamellatâ multifidâ, columnæ alis dente superiore aristato.
Odontoglossum Hallii, Lindl. in Bot. Reg. sub t. 1992, et Folia Orchid.; Reichenbach fil. Xenia, i. 63; Walpers Annales, vi. p. 828.
Habitat in Peru (western declivity of Pichincha) , Hartweg ”

“ Odontoglossum triumphans is an evergreen plant, with pseudobulbs from two to three inches in height, and foliage of a light green colour, growing about twelve inches high. The flower-spikes are produced after the plant has completed its growth; in some of the varieties these grow two or three feet in length, with many flowers developed upon them. The sepals and petals are of a golden yellow, barred with brownish crimson; the lip is white at the base, its front portion having a large irregular blotch of brownish crimson. ”

“ Other collectors born and bred have a like sense. Roezl showed his supremacy by the confident prediction that this new species would be darker than any known, and striking in the combination of its tints.
This was in 1875. Ten years later Professor Reichenbach wrote to Mr. Sander of an astounding Odontoglossum he had seen—it may be necessary to tell the unlearned that Professor Reichenbach was the very genius of orchidology. Nothing in the least resembling it had been even rumoured hitherto. And then Reichenbach described Odontoglossum Harryanum. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Odontoglossum Lindleyanum, Reichenbach fil.: Warsz. Bonpl. ii. 69; Reichenbach, Xenia Orch. t. 71; Walpers, Annales. vi. fasc. 6.
Odontoglossum epidendroides, Lindl. fil. (non Hb. Kth. N.G.) .
Habitat in Pamplona (in sylvis humidis) , 8500 ft., Linden; Ocaña, 9000 ft., Schlim; Ocaña (floribus majoribus) , Wagener; Bogotá, Weir.
DESCRIPTION.
Pseudobulbs about 3 inches long, ovate-oblong, compressed, 2-leaved, sometimes a little spotted. ”

“ The idea that Cuitlauzina pendula might possibly be identical with Odontoglossum citrosmum had more than once occurred to myself, but Lexarza's character of the flower-scape,—which he described as "bracteis destitutus,"—had always proved an insuperable difficulty. It seems, however, that the scapes of the other Odontoglossa that he met with happened to be entirely clothed with large inflated bracts; our present plant therefore, in which they occur only at long intervals and are exceedingly minute, may in comparison be said to be almost "destitute" of them. ”

“ Odontoglossum coronarium, Lindl. Folia Orchid.; Linden, Pescatorea, t. 47.
Habitat in N. Grenada, propè La Baja, Pamplona, (alt. 7000 ft.,) Schlim.
DESCRIPTION.
A stout and rigid plant. Pseudobulbs oval, compressed, 3 or more inches long, of a brownish hue, placed at intervals on a stiff caulescent Rhizome. Leaves one on each pseudobulb, leathery, sharp-pointed, channelled near the base, a foot or more long, equal to or longer than the flower-scapes. Bracts linear channelled, only one third the length of the ovary. ”

“ Cool, moist houses are provided for O. crispum and its section of Odontoglossum; in some gardens several houses are allotted to the species. Given a suitable house and careful treatment, the Odontoglossums are among the easiest Orchids to grow, and the most certain to flower. All the species generally classed with O. crispum should be [Pg 99] grown in well-drained pots. The compost in which they are grown used to be formed exclusively of Orchid peat and Sphagnum-moss, and, where these materials can be obtained of good quality they have never been improved upon. ”

“ 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. ”

“ The best compost in which to cultivate this plant, is a mixture of peat and moss, with good drainage.
Odontoglossum Roezlii is one of the few Odontoglots that require to be grown in a warm temperature. The Cattleya house will be found to be the best position for it, and if the plants are suspended either in pots or in baskets from the roof of the house, where a copious supply of water can be given to them, they will be found to thrive well. This species is particularly liable to the attacks of the thrips, and great care should be exercised in searching for and destroying them. ”

“ Seedling Odontoglossums, when large enough to occupy thimble pots, are found to thrive well when the pots are fixed in pans or shallow seed-boxes in Sphagnum-moss, and placed on a shelf near the glass in the Odontoglossum house, where, like other seedling Orchids, they should be lightly sprayed several times each day in fine, warm weather, and as often as may be deemed necessary in colder and dull weather. ”

“ In the case of the best spotted varieties of Odontoglossum crispum, albino Cattleyas, and other exceptionally rare things, it is a good plan to arrange a batch of them together in the most suitable part of the house, or to place each on an inverted flower-pot at intervals along the staging, thus bringing them into prominence and facilitating the inspection of each at all times. Some use wire plant stands instead of inverted pots, but the moisture-holding flower-pots are preferable, if they are inspected occasionally to see that they are not harbouring insects. ”

“ O. Alexandræ is nearly allied to O. crispum and O. Pescatorei; but, independently of the structure of its flowers, differs from both in its invariably producing simple racemes instead of branched panicles. It flowers freely in the winter and spring months, and may apparently be cultivated with the greatest ease. Of course, coming as it does from a great elevation, it must not be kept too warm.
Dissections.—1. Lip and column (magnified) , seen in front. 2. Ditto, ditto, seen sideways.
Plate XV
Odontoglossum Reichenheimii. ”

“ For reasons beyond our comprehension as yet, the Odontoglossum stands in different case. No one in England has raised a plant from seed—that we may venture to say definitely. Mr. Cookson and Mr. Veitch, perhaps others also, have obtained living germs, but they died incontinently. Frenchmen, aided by the climate, have been rather more successful. MM. Bleu and Moreau have both flowered seedling Odontoglots. M. Jacob, who takes charge of M. Edmund de Rothschild's orchids at Armainvilliers, has a considerable number of young plants. The reluctance of Odontoglots to propagate is regarded as strange ”

“ This species is of easy cultivation. It seems to thrive well in rough fibrous peat, with good drainage, and elevated above the pot rim. A moderate supply of water should be given in the growing season, which is during spring and summer, but in the resting season only just enough should be given to keep the bulbs in a plump state. The warmest end of the Odontoglossum house will suit it admirably, and there it should be placed as near the glass as possible, giving just enough shade to keep the burning sun from injuring its foliage. ”

“ THE BICTON ODONTOGLOSSUM.
(VARIETY WITH LEAFY FLOWER-STEMS.)
O. (Leucoglossum) pseudobulbis oblongis compressis 2-3-phyllis, foliis ensiformibus undulatis patentibus scapo racemoso duplo brevioribus, bracteis herbaceis lanceolatis acuminatis ovario duplo brevioribus, sepalis petalisque subæqualibus lineari-lanceolatis maculatis, labelli ungue bilamellato limbo cordato acuminato undulato, columnæ alis transverse oblongis integris.
Cyrtochilum Bictoniense, Bateman, Orch. Mex. et Gua. t. 6.
Zygopetalum Africanum, Bot. Mag. t. 3812.
Habitat in Guatemala, Skinner; circa 6-7000 ped. alt. ”

“ We have found this Epidendrum to do well in the Odontoglossum-house in a compost of peat and sphagnum moss. It does equally well in a pot or in a basket, and should receive a fair supply of water while growing. The plant seems to revel in a good amount of sunlight, but it must be kept from the burning rays of the sun by a slight shading, too much sunshine being apt to make the foliage become blotched and sickly-looking. ”

“ 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. ”