l i ;
f i
O D O N T O G L O S S U M L U T E O P U R P U K K Ü M U,.M.
tengo non ;cqiiiiiuibus, soi^lis ci
OUONTOCLOSSUM L
Folla Oreh,, I., Odontoglossura, Nr. 7 I :
Gard, Cliron. 1S84, May 3, 585 1 (Bogota ^
ODONTOCLOSSUM IIYSTKIX, Hal.l Gard. Cliron. 1864, p. 64 I
" OIX)XTOC;LOSSU»I HALLI:, Lindi." Ilouk. BOL May. 1876,6237!
l'Ioma egregia poìymorphj, quanira varicBtos scu In lioc libro, »1 1 alibi ti
io Insigni;. .Scpala ci
labello subparallele supposlta. Colorum va
ciiinamomco picli, ali! signis propc alro]>urj)urconigral!<.
"so Limites planlanim afiiniiira nondura bene certi. Odontoglassum sccplrara, Re
\Vg\vz. oflcrt Sorts brevlores, carinas pulclicrrime velmlna-s. l-'lorcs vulgo magnili
mcdiocrcs. FJorcm ingeniera, pulelierriraura oranlum unquara mllii obviorum, hab
liaroncssn Alice do Rothschild
Kchb. f, mihi lo angusto b(
OL)OXTOT;I
sphairaalc "alropiirpurcum " dictum) oninino
;inaleni, labu):e conficicnda; .subjeclam, ab cxc
'fS ipse possidco. HU.-C Icon docet, labe
est a ci. t.indc" (Xr. 12841) In sylvis dcnslssinils
hlira I Wagcncr ! Trlana 1 Wallis I Weir I li.ucini
. Odontoglussiira
t. Odonlfiglo.«um, j)!. ; i- (in U
THIS handsome Oclontoglossum is now looked upon as an old Orchid and not of the highest merit, but all who admire
beautiful plants without taking into account bright or striking colours regard it as one of the finest Odontoglossa yet
introduced. It possesses a beauty peculiar to itself; its bold and beautifully formed flowers adorned with rich blotches of
chestnut brown on a delicately shaded ground and hanging from a tall gracefully arching spike, render it a plant to be
admired; moreover its cheapness and simple culture have tended to make it popular. It is the ty|5e of 2 scction of
the genus which of late years has been considerably augmented in number both by direct im|)ortation and chancc
variations under culture until now the group is without exception the most puzzling of any section, both to botanists and
cultivators. There are numerous forms of Odontoglossa in gardens at the present day which, though they are different
from the plant which is looked upon as the type of O. luteo-purpureum, must nevertheless be classed with it, for, though
their flowers may difl'er widely in colour, the habit of growth and flower formation is seldom but slightly different. The
nomenclature of the species belonging to the lutco-purpureum section has probably caused more discussion among
cultivators than all the other sections combined, and if the whole of the forms comprised in this group could be
thoroughly reviewed orchidists wouki be thankful. This, however, can only be accomplished by means of carefully
named seedlings, and by raising mules labelled with equal care.
O. luteo-))urpureum is found in the district of Bogota, in New Grenada, and usually grows in company with
O. odoratum on the lowermost branches of trees. There is a consideraljle variation as regards the colour of the flowers,
the blotches and markings of the sepals and petals of some forms being larger and much brighter than those of others.
In some forms, again, the lips of the flowers are completely covered with cinnamon red, while in others they are
beautifully margined with white or yellow. O, hystrix is synonymous with O. luteo-purpureum, while O. sceptruin is a
distinct variety or species jwssessing great beauty of form and colour in its flowers.
With the introduction of O, luteo-purpureum into Europe the history of cool-house Orchid culture may be said to
have commenced, for it was so quickly followed by numbers of other Odontoglossa from the rich Orchid region
of New Grenada, that orchidists began to build special Odontoglossum houses in order to provide the necessary
conditions of temperature and moisture, the result being that the species from the cool heights of the South American
mountain ranges were found to be easily managed. This particular species, however, is not of such simple culture
a s O. crispum, O. Pescatorei and others, but requires the same attention as O, Hallii. It is one of those species that
rei|uire to be kept rather dry at the roots at times and especially after the bulbs are developed, which occurs in May or
June, after which period the plants should be kept in a cool, shady and airy house, and only watered occasionally, but
at cach watering the plants should be thoroughly saturated. As soon as the young growths appear, which is usually in
early autumn, the plants should be potted if necessary in the usual compost, and afterwards placed in a moderately warm
temperature, such as that in the coolest part of a Cattleys house. Throughout the winter, which is the growing season of
this specie.s, it must be placed in a slightly higher temperature than the majority of Odontoglossa require. As the
growths develop and the bulbs begin to form the plants must have copious waterings, continued throughout the
flowering season, which is generally in March and April, and until the bulbs are fully grown, which occurs about
June, when a cooler and drier treatment is required, this constituting the resting season of the plant.
nwn by permission ol •d I.odgc ec