ODONTOGLOSSUM U R O - S K I N N E R I , I M
M E . S K I N N E R ' S O D O N T O G L O S S U M.
O. (LEUCOGLOSSUM, Lindl.) pseudobulbis ovato-oblongis ancipitibus comprcssis guttulatis
1—2-phylIis, foliis oblongis acuminatis scapo miiltifloro simplici vel subpaniculato multo
brevioribus, bracteis membranaceis cymbiformibus acuminatis ovario 3-plo brevioribus,
petalis sepalisque subfequalibus late-ovatis acuminatis, labelli unguc bilamellato limbo
cordato maculato acuminato undulato, columnte alis ovatis deflexis.
ODONTOGLOSSUH UKO-SEINNEBI, Gardeners- Chronicle, vol. 1859, pp. 708, 724.
Habitat in GUATEMALA, prope Santa Catarina de los Altos, 5-6000/F., Skinner.
DESCRIPTION.
PSEUDOBULBS 3 or 4 inches long by nearly as many wide, much flattened, and very sharp at the edges, always powdered with
minute Irowm dots, which do not appear until the second year. LEAVES oblong, broad, and stiff, acuminate at their
extremities, much shorter than the scape. SCAPE generally simple, but sometimes slightly panicled, about a yard
high, and bearing from 10 to 20 agreeably scented FLOWERS. BRACTS of a delicate texture, boat-shaped, scarcely
more than one-third the length of the ovary. SEPALS and PETALS nearly equal, broadly ovate, about an inch long,
of a green colour, covered with rich reddish-brown spots. LIP broad and spreading, heart-shaped, acuminate, and
turned inwards at the apex, its disk white, but covered with round blue spots, which cease at the fool of the isthmus
(elm), where two upright and nearly parallel lamella (plates) are stationed. COLUMN furnished with ovale, declined,
round-headed wings.
This is a robust and stately plant, nearly allied to 0. Bictonicnse to which at one time Dr. Lindley was disposed to
refer it, but far larger and handsomer in all its parts. Its broad pseudobulbs which become covered in their second
year with a multitude of small reddish dots, its wide sepals and petals, the spotting of its lip, and its general resemblance
to Zygopetalum Mackaii will, however, sufficiently distinguish it. Being found at a higher elevation than 0. Jiictoniense,
it requires to be kept more cool, and as it affects dark and wet banks in its native wilds, it is belter to place it in a north
house where it can be more readily protected from the sun. Treated in this way it grows luxuriantly and (lowers
abundantly at Knypcrsley, whence the specimen figured in the Plate was derived. Its flowering season seems to van-, for
while with me it is now (May) coming into bloom, about London November is the more usual month.
0. Uro-Skinneri was tlie latest discovery of my indefatigable friend Mr. Skinner (after whom it was named by
Dr. Lindley), and who, though now settled in England, is as much devoted to his favourite tribe as when, while resident
in Guatemala, lie was wont to delight the Orchidists of Europe by the multitude of new and beautiful plants that he was
constantly dispatching across the main.
DISSECTION.—1. Side view of lip and column : magnified.