ÜDONTOGLOSSUM CRISPUM lml ALEXAM)R/E
:i!lSPUJI, Limli., ijseuclobulbis pyriformi compressis diphyllis, fol
s, tcpalis cuiicato obloiigis aciitis, mainine variis, sacpc crispís K
pcdunculo |)Iur;f!Qro, floribus plciomorupra
ba'sin columns aUnnlo, liimiiia baai
ana brcviori, latcralibus i cxcuntibus, saepo rhomboas, columna trigona medium versus angulala, alis scmioblongis rliombcin laccro s'cmlatis n lamellai disci
OWNTOGLOSSUM CRISPUM Lmdl Tayl Ann. Nat, Hist., KV., .845, 25C!; Lincil. Herb.!; Lmcil. Bot. Re?., xxxi., ,845, 50!; L.mli. l-olia Orchid. I
- T 5697 1 (Odontoglossum Alexandra.;; Van Hoiiltc
S_errcs, XVI., .652 !(Odontoglos.sum Blunh,)l; J. Batcman OJontt^Iossum xiv., (Odonloglossum Alcxandnf, IvximicJI; K. Wamir! H. Williams,
118, 137 (Odoiitoglossum Alcxandra.01; Warner, Sclcct Orcli. I'lanls, 2 Scr., t. 23; fido I'. Moore, in Orchid
¡'lore
T. Moore, Orchid l.,43.47l;Vol. II
nr, coloris varicbitibiis lu sr millia mil I lorn m ex plagis Columbia; U. S. avide cr lb Ore ¡lid
ODOKTCXILOSSUM ALKXANDR/K, liat., Gard. Chron., iSfii, 10S3 li >rocee.l. ¿¿yal" liort! See'
K RLUNTII, Rchb. f. tela floris bene v.-ilidiori, lepalis rhombeo-ovatis .-iculis dcnticulatis intcgerrimisque iila
OnoNTOCLOssUM BLIJNTII, Rchb. r. in MN Mohl uiid von SchlcclUendal notanischc Zdtiing ISR>4 4,51
IT IS probable that this work will give many varieties, nay, individuals, of thi.s vege/a/proleus. It u-ill thus be r ight to speak
about Ihem, as explanations by drawings are indispensable with this plant. We have, however, to look at the ijuestioii of
uomenciature. When Dr. Lindley, who.sc name must be kept in rcspeetful memory as long as Botany exists, described
his Odontoglossum crispum from Hartweg's .specimens, preserved with the original labels both in Dr. Lindley's and in my
herbarium, he added the following remarks : " Flowers large, yellow, with a purple centre." This appears on the original
diagnosis, as I noted long since, and as my excellent friend. Prof. Oliver, F.R.S., has ascertained afresh at my instance,
the book not being in my reach at this moment, And again. Dr. Lindley called the plant a Trymenium, which it is not,
since the anthcrbed is not bordered by a membrane. As to the last statement I have no key. With regard to the yellow
colour of the flo\vers, with a purple centre, it was caused by a copy of table 215, coj>ied by poor Matthews from a drawing
of "Rui z & Pavon," by their artist Tafalla, preserved then at Lima—yellow, with apurpl e centre, and numerous purple .spots.
What it is, no one can say; the serrate keels stand parallel, covering half of the midline on the single labellum at right
hand. This unlucky representation has misled Lindley himself over the colours. The use of Dr. Lindley's invaluable
typical collection must be made cwn vuiximogram salis. othenvise it is dangerous. Careless observers regard Tafalla's
representation as a sketch prepared by Theodor Hartweg. Since that time yellow Odontoglossum crispum have been discovered,
and thus Dr. Lindley's remark is partly justified, post /csfuw. though there is not the slightest doubt of Hartweg's
plant having been white flowered. When Mr. Eateman published his Odontoglossum Ale.tandnc he had
Dr. Lindley's herbarium in his own house, on loan from the great English botanist. I have no doubt the unlucky
statement a.s to the yellow colour, perhaps also the old later-discarded indication of a Trymenium, misguided the excellent
author of the Monograph of Odontoglossum, which work may be regarded as unsurpassed, and it is perhaps the finest
book on Orchids that has ever been issued. As to myself, when 1 published Odontoglossum Eluntii I most distinctly
compared it with Odontoglo.ssum crispum, Lindl., which I knew perfectly well. In those days no one could foresee the
protean nature of such things. As a fact, I never had any difficulty in recognising what is Mr. J. Batcman's Odontoglossum
Alexandra, dediaited by permission to H.R.H. Princess Alexandra of Wales, and what is my Bluntii. Mr.
Bateman has, to my own knowledge, fully identified his Odontoglossum with the old crispum, but I thought it loyally due