PLATE X V I .
O D O N T O G L O S S U M L/EVE.
S M O O T H - L I P P E D O D O N T O G L O S S U M.
O. (ISANTIIIUM) pseudobulbis subeompressis suleatis dipliyllis, foliis oblongo-ensiformibus
obtuse aeutis apiee obliquis, seapis multifloris brevioribus, floribus lase racemoso-panieulatis,
braeteis brevibus membranaceis, sepalis petalisque oblongo-linearibus aeutis planis,
labelli limbo panduriformi apieulato ungui lfevi obsolctissime bidentato, columme alis apiee
rotimdatis crispis basi planis. Lindl.
ODONTOGLOSSUM LJJVE, Lindl. in Hot. Reg. (1844), t. 39; L. Pol. OrelI 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. BRACK 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 Us base, where it is sometimes very obscurely bidentate. WINGS of COLUMN crisp at tlie 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 (0. 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 regime it will flower abundantly iu the spring months. The chief danger to be guarded
against is that of its exhausting itself—like many species of Phalanopsis—by over-much (lowering, 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.