  ODONTOGLOSSUM GLORIOSUM. FINE ODONTOGLOSSUM. O. (Euodontoglossum, Lindl.) pseudobulbis ovatis confertis diphyllis, foliis lato-lanceolatis acutis scapo valido paniculato multifloro brevioribus, sepalis petalisque oblongo-ligulatis acuminatis stellatis, labello a basi cordat ligulato acuminato, basin versus utrinque angulato, ceterum hinc illinc denticulato, callo depresso quadrilobulo nunc quadridentato ante basin, column clavat apice utrinque cirrho setaceo medio inferne unidentato. Odontoglossum Gloriosum, Reichenbach fil. Bonpl. ii. 278; idem in Gardeners' Chronicle (New Plants, n. 293, 1865), et in Walpers, Annales, vi. fasc. 6. Habitat in N. Granada, Soto. 8-9000 p., Schlim; OcaÑa, 6000 p., Wagener; BogotÁ, Weir. DESCRIPTION. Pseudobulbs ovate, 2-leaved, growing closely together, 3 or 4 inches long, turning to a dark colour when old. Leaves broadly-lanceolate, acute, shorter than the stout much-branched many-flowered panicle. Flowers exceedingly variable in size and form and colour; the example in the Plate representing one of the largest varieties, and the vignette one of the least. Usually they are about 2 inches across, of a pale ochrish or greenish-yellow, blotched, or sometimes minutely spotted, with dark-chestnut. Sepals and Petals nearly equal, lanceolate, acute (often narrower than in the figure), slightly waved. Lip ligulate, smooth (not crisp) at the margin, very much attenuated in front, but heart-shaped at the base, towards which it is abruptly carinate, and furnished with 2 upright large sharp double teeth. Column clavate, with hairy cirrhi on either side near its apex, and a solitary tooth near the middle. This remarkable Odontoglossum was long since discovered in New Granada by Schlim and Wagener, in whose herbaria its stately many-flowered panicles formed so striking a feature that Professor Reichenbach did not hesitate to give the plant the name of gloriosum; an epithet which—now that we have the plant amongst us in a living state—may perhaps be thought to be somewhat beyond its merits. It must indeed be admitted that the fresh blossoms, which are of a faint yellowish-green, scarcely realize the expectations which the rich colour and profusion of flowers in the dried specimens had very naturally raised. Nor are all the varieties of equal merit, some being much smaller and paler than others. The species has lately been imported in large quantities, both by Messrs. H. Low and Co., of Clapton, and by the Horticultural Society, who received it in 1864 from Mr. Weir, by whom it was gathered in the neighbourhood of BogotÁ. It flowers freely, and at all seasons of the year; nor does it appear to care so much as many of its congeners for a few degrees more or less of heat or cold. I believe it has already bloomed in almost every collection of note; though the spikes, as was of course to be expected, are as yet far from equal to the wild specimens.[8] The figure was taken from a plant in Mr. Day's garden, where I saw, in November last, nearly a dozen distinct varieties in blow, some of them rivalling the example given in the Plate, while others were as insignificant as that which is shown in the vignette. The blossoms continue fresh for at least a fortnight, and emit a pleasant honey-like scent. Dissections.—1. Lip (magnified), seen sideways; 2. Ditto, seen in front. Plate XIII Odontoglossum Warneri. Odontoglossum Warneri. Odontoglossum stellatum.
Odontoglossum stellatum. |
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