ODONTOGLOSSUM EDWARDI rm. j.
a basi in medium, papuiis gcminis obtusatis mticc intus inU-rjccta carinula, ci
OdontocLüssum Kdwardi, Rchb.
Pscudobulbi compress© pyrirormcs c
la, minora quaidam alipantia. I'cduncu
In rcmotissimis Cordillcrls ccuadorifit
td. Chron., iS;8, July 20, (x.) p. 18I
fc viridcs, fide exc. Sander bicnnos, vc
t:oviolaccu5, nunc viridulus, superne ai
laa I7,(xll0p.72. Mook. P
:c diphylli. Folia ligulala
issimo paniculalus, Fiorcs
ag., 1884,6771 I
i ultra pedalia, in pscudobulbo
ua; violaceo purpurei
lO, dctcclum, cui magna cum gaudio dicati
THE rich Qower colouring, the delightful violet-like fragrance, and the exquisite elegance of growth of this Orchid,
combine to make it one of the most beautiful in cultivation. Among all the Odontoglossa, now numbering upwards of
eighty species, O. Edwardi stands unique in point of colour, no other possessing such a pleasing harmony of mauve
and gold as is seen in the finest forms of this species, and, moreover, there are few if any that bear such a profusion of
flowers on such tall branching spikes.
It is a comparatively new Orchid, as it was not known ten years ago. Its home is on the high Andes of Ecuador,
at elevations of about 7000 feet. It is therefore a strictly cool house Orchid, one that delights in an equally moist
atmosphere, such as suits mountain Orchids like Onciclium macranthum, 0. cucullatuni, O. nubigenum, O. Phalanopsis,
and others. It is one of the discoveries of Edward Klaboch, after whom the spccies was named by Reichenbach. The
reason why it is a scarce plant in collections is chiefly owing to the difliculties attending its importation. Its native
haunts are so inaccessible that a long time elapses before t)ie plants can be brought to the coast. The collected
plants usually arrive in early spring, but generally a small percentage only are in a sound condition, hence the difficulty
of establishing this Orchid.
When the imported plants arc received care should be taken to free the bulbs of any decaying matter, and,
this done, we find it a good plan to hang the bulbs, tops downwards, near the roof in a Cattlcya house, or any
place not too hot and moist, Occasionally syringing the bulbs will encourage them to form new roots. When well
rooted the plants should be potted in a light compost and then placed in the coolest part of an Odontoglossum or a
Masdevallia house, but they must not be too much shaded, or a soft unripened growth will be the result, The finest
specimens we have seen of this Orchid were grown near a ventilator where there was a continual current of air, and the
plants were hanging over a water tank so that the air was always moist. These are the conditions that a cultivator
should imitate. It is a plant that requires plenty of water when well established, and no distinct resting season, though
dui ing the last three months of the year the plants should be kept drier. A peculiarity of this species is that its pseudobulbs
require two seasons to mature, hence a plant flowers only in alternate seasons. It produces its flower spikes in
spring or early summer, and they take a long time to develope, but such a glorious display of beauty and fragrance is well
worth waiting two seasons for.
Krom a plant in the Dell collection, by permission of Baron J. II. W. Sehrotlcr.
im