m
E P I D E N D R U M V I T E L L INUM /J,,,IÍ. .\E\JUS /-/../
pyrifornii, ancipiti bus diiihyllis, foHis oblongo lij
plurifiüro (imnc pnnicul.-i), o
lato scu oblongo aculo (num
irigona .-ipicc tridentata, basi
tisacutia, spatlia fiorali saipiiis evoluta, racemo
io trigono, perigonio carnoso coriaceo, icpniis
o columna; varie minato, lij-u.
ilL b. Edmond Boi
(1831) Hot. Rt^g. iS
Orchid., tab. 45 I ; F
Mnorc, Oreli. Al bun
lipiilcndnim vilcilinii
bcno angusto. Forsan hue ponine
licet e>: Mc.'<ico dictum.
I'cdunculus viridis pminosus
bene brcvinres. I'ediccli; cinnabaiini
viridia, cliinabarino striala. Sci«la
vitellina. I.ibclla colore iniiltiim v
c lavaUi, Hava .ipiculo
n lloultc Flore di Serres, I(
Colun a nava
Crcscit
Bractea: oblongotriangula.- pcdiccllis
Ovaria vulgo cum pcdici-lli« anEulata,
•ia: xanthina, sulpliurca, cirnabarino
dimidio flava, dimidio cinnabarina.
I"r\iclus cxalali vcrnicDsi aspcri.
Mcxico, ulii dclcxit cl. Pavon 1798 I Oaxaca, Kanvinnki!
A 4500—6000 I Juin. Rare Galcolti I Talca JUrgcnscn I
panícula Iriramca, ratnis latcralibus scptcmfloria clongatis (
ilepcquc 111 Mcxico 90001 Ilfirtwcgl Oaxac:
Uicciiibrc. Hegions lr6s froidcs, sur les ch£-nes. Glilesbreght 1
Fisura: anal y ticic, Flos oblique vises labello inlcgerrimo. Idem mfiiio ft. MiKUS ; Guntcmala v. Warscewic? t
oblique visus labello trilobo ab ill. Hironc dc Sclircedcr laigitus. Flos Gratis-simo ammo profiteor, mc curcute oxc V. santl
posticc VI.US ut scpalortim carinas conspicla.«. Labella duo cun, iuercdibili. eleganlia; ac vigor,s acccp,,« ab .11. Baronet-
'colum..-, varic connata + Columna antici + Anthcra s.pcme ac Kothscbild ct ab. ill. Harono de Schnxdcr qu, pan.edam mis.t nonl.u,
infeme + Pollimaria duo posticc. "»""«"¡^ l^'^oHo trilobo oma«., rehqu.s Icg.tim,^
THIS much is certain that the plnnt known to amateurs as Epidendruin vitellinum inajus is the same as Epiclenclrum
viteliinum Lindl, although for some time the tiny Guatcmalese plant appears to have been regarded as tlie type. -My
idea is to leave to amateurs their own nomenclature as much as possible, and this was also Dr. Lindley's opinion.
Hence we kept vitellinum " majus." I alluded to both varieties as early as 1866 (Beitraigc zu cnier Ordiideenkunde
Central Amerikas, p. 34 I). I may add that among Epidendrum vitellinum " majus " there are some very small, with tiny
flowers, yet they have apparently ahvays much broader sepals and petals. If anyone would like to enlighten himself as
to the immense progress made during the last twenty years in Orchid culture, let him look at old representations of
flowers and compare them with what our best men produce at the present day. //. C. lichb.f.
It is not likely that the ifreat popularity which this plant now enjoys will ever diminish seeing thai it stands out so
prominently from all other cultivated Orchids as regards the colour of its flowers. Although there are several others that •
possess flowers of a similar orange-red colour none of these have the same brilliancy of hue, neither arc they capable of
producing such a glowing effect as an assemblage of well flowered plants of this Hpidcndrum. It xvas introduced in
1840, but for many years was a veiy scarce plant in gardens. Of late years, howex'cr, it has been ¡m)jorted abundantly,
and now it is not uncommonly seen grown by the hundred in large collections. It is a native of Mexico and of
Guatemala in Central Ameriai, and grows naturally 011 oak trees. The small flowered tiny form invariably comes
from Guatemala, while the large flowered tyjje (majus) conies from the Mexican habitats. It may be termed an alpine
Orchid, seeing that its home is on "cloud cappcd mountains amidst continual mists," II reachcs an altitude of 9000 to
lo.ooo feet above sea level, where, of course, a low tempcrattue prevails at sonic seasons. Ilcnce, it must be treated
strictly as a cool house Orchid. The nature of the plant's growth, its dwarf habit, the thick texture of its leaves antl
flowers, and the peculiar waxy |)0\\dcr with which its foliage is coated, all indícate that it is a plant which delights to
grow in an atmosphere heavily charged with moisture. It is in con.sequence of this fact that some parts of the British
Isles are more favourable than others for the gro^^•th of this and other mountain Orchids from \\cstcrn America, ^^•e
always find that in moist localities, such as in the western pans of England and Scotland, E. vitellinum is grown
to pcrfcction with the least amount of trouble.
The successful culture of this Orchid is not difficult, especially where an Odontoglossum house exists, as it must be
grown in a cool, moist and equable atmosphere. While in actixe groxvth it should have an abundance of moisture, and a
proper resting period must be observed. The west side of an Odontoglossum house suits it admirably, as it then gets
plenty of light and air. The plant is in active gro^vtll from about August till December, and during this period it must be
well watered and enjoy a moisture-laden atmosphere. Prom December till about March it should be given a decided rest,
but water must not be entirely withheld, otlienvise the incipient flower sheatlis will sufl-er. From March onwards it must
never be dry, and it is advisable after the rest to thoroughly saturate the soil by dipping in water. It flowers
in June and July and remains in bloom for several weeks in a dry cool atmosphere. It succeeds best in pots, though it
may be grown well in suspended pans or baskets. Being so dwarf it is best to suspend the plants near the roof, othera ise
Ihcy suffer from want of light. The usual potting compost of peal and sphagnum moss suits it.
Our plate was drawn from a plant in the collection of Chas. Dormán, ICsq., The Firs, .Sj-denharo, l.ondon.
mm