P L A T E X X V 1 1 .
O D O N T O G L O S S U M C O E O N A E I U M.
R O Y A L O D O N T O G L O S S U M.
O. (TRYMENIUM) rhizomate caulescente, pseudobulbis brunneis ovalibus compressis monophyllis,
foliis rigidis coriaceis basi canaliculatis acutis racemo multifloro dense raceuioso subsequalibus
vel longioribus, bracteis linearibus canaliculatis ovario triplo brevioribus, sepalis
petalisque subrotundis unguiculatis planis margine crispis, labello longe cuneato retuso basi
auriculis unidentatis subfalcatis obtusis subtus in unam connatis acuto, inter auriculas
tuberculis duobus hoc didymo illo inferiore simplici; clinandrio subserrato lobis rotundatis
(Lindl.)
ODONTOGLOSSDM CORONARIUM, Lindl. Folia. Orchid.; Linden, Pescatorea, t. 47.
Habitat in N. GRENADA, propi La Baja, Pamplona, (alt. 7000 ft,,) ScMim.
DESCRIPTION.
A stout and rigid plant. PSEUDOBULBS oval, compressed, 3 or more inches long, of a brownish hue, placed at
intervals on a stiff caulescent RHIZOME. LEAVES one on each pseudobulb, leathery, sharp-pointed,
channelled near the base, a foot or more long, equal to or longer than the flower-scapes. BRACTS linear
channelled, only one third the length of the ovary. RACEMES about a foot high, upright, bearing from a
dozen to twenty flowers in a dense mass. SEPALS and PETALS equal, subrotund, unguiciilate, smooth, with
their margins crisp or curled, about an inch long, of a rich reddish coppery brown on the upper surface,
shining as if they had been varnished, yellowish underneath. Lip yellow, retuse, about same length as the
petals, obovate, rounded at apex, narrowed and wedge-shaped at the base, where the sides arrange
themselves into two narrow blunt falcate horns which are united on the under side. CREST consisting of
three processes. COLUMN slightly curved with two truncate rounded wings.
This species has been long known, but it was slow in making its appearance, and slow likewise in flowering
after it had reached us. During the last four years both Messrs. Veitch and M. Linden have succeeded in
importing it alive, but it has only produced flowers in two or three instances; the finest specimens I have
seon being those oxhibited by Lord Londesborougli during the present spring (1874). Even in its native
country it seems to be a shy flowerer. As it is never met with lower thau 7000 feet on the mountains of
Pamplona, it of course requires a cooler treatment than many of its congenex-s which affect a lower level.
The shining surface of the sepals and petals is very remarkable, and has the appearance of being due to a coat
of the best varnish. Another species, O. brevifolium, found in lofty mountains in Peru, is closely allied to this,
if indeed, which 1 greatly doubt, it be anything more than a very high-level variety of it.