  ODONTOGLOSSUM WARNERIANUM, MR. WARNER'S ODONTOGLOSSUM. O. (Leucoglossum, Lindl.) pseudobulbis subelongatis compressis monophyllis, foliis membranaceis oblongis in petiolum canaliculatum angustatis scapo 2-6-floro brevioribus, bracteis uncialibus acuminatis, sepalis lineari-lanceolatis acutis, petalis latioribus undulatis, labelli callo cuneato ovato, antice abrupte trilobo, lobis lateralibus angulatis, lobo medio forcipato bicruri, longiori, lateribus calli a basi versus apicem involutis, lamin cordato-triangul obtusÂ, margine minute crispul crenulatÂ, column gracili clavat apterÂ. Odontoglossum Warnerianum, Reichenbach fil. in Mohl and Schl. Bot. Zeit. 1864, 297; idem in Gardeners' Chronicle, 1865, New Plants, n. 294. Habitat in Mexico (?). DESCRIPTION. Pseudobulbs rather long and narrow, compressed, about 3 inches in length. Leaves, one on each pseudobulb, less than a span long, membranous, sharp-pointed, narrowed at the base into a channelled petiole. Bracts about an inch long, scariose, very acuminate. Scape longer than the leaves, only partially covered by the bracts, bearing from 2 to half-a-dozen flowers of a very delicate texture, and of snowy whiteness with the exception of the yellow crest on the lip and a few brown blotches on the lower half of the sepals and (though in a less degree) of the petals also. Sepals rather narrow, oblong, acute. Petals broader than the sepals and waved at the margin. Lip with a heart-shaped crenulate plate (occasionally suffused with a rosy tint), and a yellow 3-lobed callus at its base, the front portion of which is longer than the lateral ones (which are turned inwards from the base upwards), and split into two divergent members. Column slender, clavate, wingless. This pretty species was first described by Professor Reichenbach, from materials derived from the collection of Mr. Warner, of Broomfield, in compliment to whom he named it. It also flowered with the late Mr. Cauty, of Liverpool, who kindly sent me the specimens from which the figure was prepared, but these were smaller and less rich in their colouring than those of Mr. Warner. We have no precise information as to the locality where O. Warnerianum grows wild, but there can be no doubt that it comes from some part of Mexico, whence we have other species, e.g. O. Rossii, O. Ehrenbergii, and O. nebulosum, to all of which it is nearly allied. It flowers in the later autumn and winter months, but like most of the other members of its section (Leucoglossum), is of a delicate habit, and requires to be very carefully handled. 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. Dissections.—1. Lip and column (magnified), seen in front; 2. Ditto, seen sideways. |
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