[ 9 J
O D O N T O G L O S S U M ROSSI I /,/w/.
(Ampiint. a Rchb.f.) (Lcucoglossa apU'm)
VAU RUBESCENS LKUCOGLOSSUM.
Pscucio-bulbis pyrifornìi-ovatis compressis raonoiihyllìs aggrcatis folils a
bractcis triangulis acutis oraria pjcliccllata longo non ®qu;intibus, sepalls '
bii'i, labili; ungue cartilaijiiico, lineari canaliculato limbis anticis rotU[,w„„n
subcorrfato circulari iisqiie tnüliforini crispula, columna clavata gracili aptora.
petiolnlo angustalis oblongis aculis, ¡lecliincnils gmcilibus uni—scxllori«,
triangulis, lepiüs cuncato oblnngls acutis.hinc undul.iti», inullo majorirocessum
OüONTOULOSsUM RosstI.Lindl.Sert Oi-ch., sub t. 25 I; Lindl, üot. Rog., xxv t
glossum Nr. 20!; Maund, Üot. 5, 222, etc.
839, t. 23 I; xxxi., .843, p-ig. 52 !; Lindl. Fdia Orcl.ldacoa I, Odonlof.,
OnoxTOCLOSSUM ACU>tiNATUM, Hort Lindl. I.e. xxxi, pag. 52 !
ODONTOGLOSSUM Rossii ACUMIXATUM, Knw. Weste., Fiorai Cab ti: 1840 N i'gi
ODÜNTO01.OS.SUU A1-TIÜ.UM, La Llav,, Lex. Nov, Vcg. D«cr., Faso.'i., pag. 35 T; kd,b.
numquam »tricaiida.
ligulatiini ema^inatiini insilicnlibui, l.iminii mcmbranncea
Walp. A
" ODONTOCLOs.SU-M 1ÌHKENBEUGII, Lk. Kl., Olto Abb. 16;" Van HomteFl. Serres, vlii., S4()L
Scpala viridia bruniieo muUimaculata. Topaia alba, basi brunneo niaculaUi. Libelli unimis (lavus intus
Cohiiiiiia alb""'-'-""'- °
ütriolalus, plus minus vt
Ì, Rchb. r.Gard. Chron, 1S79, Feb. 1, p. rjSI; sepalis afjuosc ochraceis, raro roseole suffusi.! ruf.> marmorali. tcpali
;x parte sulTusIs, plus minus biunneo roaeulatis, labclli lamina alba seu roseolo alha. '
OllONTOCWbsVM KUmiSCEXS, Lindi., Journ. HorL Soc.,v.,35!; Lindi. Folia Ordì idaeea I. Odonlc^lossum .S'r Rchb f
J. Linden. Lucìen Linden, et limilo Rodiga«, Lindenia I
0|)0NT0ÜIX)S.SUM Kossil, Lindl., var. MAJUS, V. iroutte Flore des Serres, xx., 211c
ae pr.icterea varietates sunt descriptae, de quibus hic non dieendum. In Mexico |irac:
Walp. Ann., vi., S.wl
praocipue Quercubus Marlin flnrens.
T i l l s charming Mexican Orchid belongs to that scction of the genus wliich Lincllcy callcd Leucoglossum, o
of the prevalence of white iabella in the .species comprised in it. The group also contains .such well known species as
0 . Cervaiitesii, nebulosiim and Bictoniense, besides several others le.ss common in cultivation. O, Rossii has affinity with
O. stellatum on the one side and 0, Dawsoni on tlie other. O. l^ossii was discovered about fifty years ago by the collector
whose name it bears. He found it near Oaxaca, the centre of the Mexican Orchid district, and sent plants to his employer,
Mr. Barker, of Birmingham, who was the first to flower it in England. Of late years it has become very plentiful and may
be .seen growing by- the hundred in many Orchid collections. It is without question one of the loveliest Orchids In
cultivation and is valuable because it flowers in the depth of winter, and continue.s so long in bloom, while its simple
culturc gives it additional worth. The graceful sprays of flowers arc well adapted for cutting, and for this purpose
alone it is worth growing in large quantities.
I t is one of the mo.st variable Orchids as regards the size of flowers. Between the small and the large forms, which
have flowers measuring over three inches across, there is every intermediate size. The variation in colour is even more
remarkable, it being difficult to find two alike. Usually the three sepals have a greenish ground, blotched and spotted with
sepia brown ; the petals are half white and the rest dark brown, while the lip is pure white surmounted by a yellow crest.
These colours vary greatly in intensity. The column of the flower also varies in colour; generally it is lilac, but sometimes
white ; the crcst too varies from orange yellow, through lemon yellow and white. There is no absolute line of distinction
between Rossii pure and simple and the rubescens varieties, as the difference is merely a question of colour. If the
flowers arc over two inches across it is the rule to append the varietal name majus to the plant, but there is a considerable
difference between the finest and the ordinary forms. The number of flowers on a spike varies according to the strength
of the bulb. Usually there arc two or three, but not often five, a s shown in our plate, which represents a fine variety.
If a few simple conditions are observed, there is no Orchid of easier culturc than O. Rossii, although it has the
reputation of being difficult to flower well. The reason of this may often be attributed to the practice of growing it like
O. crispum, cool and moist all the year round. Being a Mexican plantit must have a decided resting period corresponding
with the dry .season in Mexico. During April and M;iy the plants should be kept cool and dry. From midsummer
through the winter until March, the plants must not be allowed to get dry, yet not over-watered. They should be kept
in a light and airy place, and the temperature may rise to 70 deg, Fahr. in sun heat, and the night temperature may fall
to 45 deg. or even slightly lower. An Odontoglossum house, or ordinary close and moist greenhouse, suits it well.
Flowers are jiroduced from the ¡)artially matured bulbs, which should be thoroughly ripened after having flo^^•cred, in order to
ensui-e good flower spikes the next season. The plants may be either grown in suspended baskets or pans, or on wood
blocks, with a little peat and moss round the roots. The soil should consist of three parts peat to one of sphagnum moss.
Di-awn by permission ot I lis Graee the Duke ot Marlborough from a plant in tl>e Blenheim collection.
L i