  ODONTOGLOSSUM PESCATOREI, Lindley. M. PESCATORE'S ODONTOGLOSSUM. O. (Isanthium, Lindl.) pseudobulbis ovatis lÆvigatis nebulosis diphyllis, foliis loratis planis basi angustatis panicul ampl erect multiflor 3-plo brevioribus, bracteis minutis, floribus membranaceis, sepalis ovato-oblongis apiculatis leviter undulatis, petalis conformibus latioribus, labello cuspidato subpandurato basi denticulato, cristÆ lamellis lateralibus distantibus cartilagineis laceris lineis duabus divergentibus apice denticulatis interjectis, columnÆ brevis alis brevibus cuneatis laceris. (Lindl. Fol. Orch., quibusdam mutatis.) Odontoglossum Pescatorei, Lindley, in Paxton's Flower Garden, iii. t. 90; Pescatorea, t. 1; Warner's Select Orchidaceous Plants, t. 25. Odontoglossum Nobile, Reichenbach fil. in LinnÆa, 22, 850. Habitat in New Granada, Province of Pamplona, at the height of from 5000 to 6000 feet, Funck and Schlim. DESCRIPTION. Pseudobulbs from 2 to 3 inches long, of an ovate form, glossy, and mottled with dark brown, usually bearing 2 lorate Leaves, which are from 6 inches to a foot long, narrowed at the base and sharp at the end, much shorter than the tall upright branched Panicle, which sometimes rises to the height of 3 feet, and bears from 6 to 60 membranous Flowers of a peculiarly delicate texture. Bracts very small. Sepals ovate-oblong, apiculate, slightly waved at the edges, an inch long, white with streaks of rose-colour. Petals similar in form and texture to the sepals, but broader and more curled at the edges, of the purest white. Lip inclining to fiddle-shape, pointed, but with the point invisible when looked at in front; towards the base are two short upright tubercles that pass forward into plates diverging from each other, and toothed in front. On either side are two pseudo-wings, irregularly indented, and, like the plates, of a beautiful gold colour, streaked with red. The rest of the lip is white, with the exception of a few irregular blotches of crimson, the number and size and disposition of which vary considerably in different individuals. Column short, with short wedge-shaped Wings, a little indented at the edges. This lovely plant was discovered in the year 1847 by MM. Funck and Schlim when on a botanical mission to New Granada, in the service of M. Linden. According to its discoverers, it is not unfrequently met with in the provinces of Pamplona and OcaÑa, at an elevation above the sea-level of about 5000 feet, inhabiting the oak forests which—where the climate is mild—clothe the eastern slopes of the glorious Cordillera. O. Pescatorei flowered with M. Linden for the first time in 1851, and attracted, as well it might, universal admiration. Nothing indeed, even in the beautiful family to which it belongs, can surpass the delicacy of its blossoms, with their charming mixture of rose and white, relieved by a few deep-crimson stains scattered irregularly over the lip. Its habit too is good, and its stately panicle of flowers well-proportioned to the size of the bulbs and leaves. It blooms abundantly in the spring months, and its blossoms continue at least six weeks in perfection. We need not wonder that a plant with such a rare combination of good qualities should have been selected by M. Linden to do honour to his patron the late M. Pescatore, after whom he named it, and in whose sumptuous work ('Pescatorea') it forms the first plate. Although the species, owing to the difficulty of importing it alive, is still exceedingly rare in this country, it has already flowered in many of the principal collections, especially in those of Mr. Rucker, Mr. Basset, Mr. Day, and Mr. Dawson, of Meadow Bank near Edinburgh. With the last-named gentleman a panicle, with sixty flowers upon it, is now (April, 1864) in full beauty. Mr. Fitch's drawing was taken from an exquisite variety, of which Mr. 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 pendulum. |
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