  ODONTOGLOSSUM LÆVE. SMOOTH-LIPPED ODONTOGLOSSUM. O. (Isanthium) pseudobulbis subcompressis sulcatis diphyllis, foliis oblongo-ensiformibus obtuse acutis apice obliquis, scapis multifloris brevioribus, floribus laxe racemoso-paniculatis, bracteis brevibus membranaceis, sepalis petalisque oblongo-linearibus acutis planis, labelli limbo panduriformi apiculato ungui lÆvi obsoletissime bidentato, columnÆ alis apice rotundatis crispis basi planis. Lindl. Odontoglossum lÆve, Lindl. in Bot. Reg. (1844), t. 39; L. Fol. Orch. n. 52. Habitat in Guatemala, Skinner. DESCRIPTION. Pseudobulbs from 3 to 5 inches long, ovate, subcompressed, furrowed, 2-leaved. Leaves sword-shaped, obtuse, or obtusely-acute, sometimes slightly oblique at their extremities, a foot or more long, shorter than the many-flowered flower-stems. Flower-stems loosely branched, 2 to 3 feet long, rather drooping, bearing from 20 to (sometimes) 100 Flowers. Bracts from half an inch to an inch long, sharp-pointed, clipping tightly hold of the stem. Sepals and Petals nearly equal, oblong-linear, acute, plane at the edges, usually about an inch long, light green, transversely banded with brown. Lip with a fiddle-shaped, apiculate limb doubled back on its unguis or claw, white, changing into purple at its base, where it is sometimes very obscurely bidentate. Wings of Column crisp at the edges, plane at the base. This is not one of the most attractive species, but its stately appearance, the profuseness with which its flowers are produced and their pleasant aroma, will secure it a place in most collections. 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. Dissections.—1. Lip, seen in front; 2. Lip and column, seen sideways: magnified. Plate XVII Odontoglossum atropurpureum.
Odontoglossum atropurpureum. |
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