P l a t e X X V .
CYRTOCHILUM MACULATUM.
Cyrtochilum maculatum. Botanical Register, 1838, misc. no. 39. t. 44. Knowles
and Westcott, Floral Cabinet, t. 57.
Although the plan of this work is not to admit any plant of whidh-a figure lias been previously
published, yet the variable appearance of the present species, and the great beauty of some of its
varieties, seem to justify a deviation from the rule, especially as it is impossible to do justice to the
species on a page the size of the monthly Botanical periodicals.
Thé specimens which first flowered had but little beauty, the colour of their sepals and petals
being green, and the number of flowers inconsiderable: but there have lately appeared, among
thé plants sent from Vera Cruz to the Horticultural Society of London, by Mr. Hartweg, many
specimens in which . a rich: yellowish brown is substituted for green, the size of the flowers much
increased, and the whole inflorescence arranged in a large nodding panicle, instead of a few flowered
raceme. Among the varieties one which is in the possession of John Rogers, Esq. Jun. of Sévenoaks,
has been selected for illustration.
It is not merely its beauty that renders this species valuable ; its fragrance is of the most delicate
kind, resembling primroses ; it is very easily cultivated, and it remains in flower a considerable time.
At Plate Y II of this work some observations were made upon the difficulty of finding a good
distinction between Cyrtochilum and Oncidium. This, and some other plants now in cultivation,
having rendered it necessary that the question should be fully considered, I have been led into an
extensive examination of these two genera and of Odontoglossum, also vaguely characterized, which
has led me to the following conclusions.
Cyrtochilum \ s not to be distinguished from Oncidium by my character derived from its
column, for&this respect they ere essentially the same.' M. K un tkM igned ;H s j ^ ju n
winged at the margin, and not aurided, as in Oncidiurj^ and Odontoglossum; but the auricles ate
Hot found in Oncidium corynephomm'», and scarcely in O. cordatnin», two new Peruvian species
nearly allied to Oncidium maeranthum. The convexity of the lip of Cyrtochilum is not greater than
is found in many common Oncidia, and is muck less than in Ó’. eicavatumO, in which
cular base is excavated into a kind of niche, the opening of which; looks towards the ape* of the
lip Neither will the undivided margin of the lip afford a, more valid mark of distinction for
independently of all other cases, I-have not fewer than three unpublished species of Oncidium in
which the lip is perfectly entire^ vis. O. cochleatum»; aureum-, and, brachyandrum» 11 dfciot
) One, ran» a rm A o rn m |pauitohulWs “ J«»“ 1“ “ HR ïn S iï' tk S a .p ir S L - -P ™ * , (19.18).
ruvibus ad ripas fluminis prove Pangoa, Mathews (1067). . , . ,
OscmiUM SS .
• ______ i _______ombm„ « i s „binds tloribm I Oncidium cochleatum ; psendobulbis fobisq. . • • ■ ■ • > concoioribus, labello unguiculato concavo obovattloot iasEcsu,'t soc pbnalsiis blniltaemraelillbautoe
Jameson. I H M folü.linèimCnnoeolatis acominat'u oblutis, soapo paniculate remis flexuoiisbractcja