i
ODONTÜGLOSSUM (IIYBRIDUJM) HXCELLKNS KM./.
lis superb Odo
:rongIy re
dullcri.''Tte petal» arc similar
the blade, \i-liicfi usually unite i
wings an; ¡nlermetliaM in shape
«en O. l'escato.-cl and O, tri.iraphans, Ixrtwcen wliieh it ¡< fairly in
parent, while the nowcrs approach more ncurly those of O. triuinphans. The sepals arc brighl
large chestnut-brown blotehcs, ivhich soinclimes coalesce in luu or three irregular Iransvtrst:
ic 1.1^, Irregular blotch In Tn
early entire.
ODQNTOCII.OSSUM liXCKi.LTNS, KCHB. F
(I88j), p.2i5, t j jo.
n Cori). Cliron.,
—"s. situated on their upper halves. The lip is while with several eheslnut blntchc.« nn
the crest, which itself is deep yellow, with a few eliestriut markings. The column
O. liXCEl.t.liNS var. KUCENES, Rchb. T. In Gard. Chron., Apr. 28, 1S88,
I, Rclib. r. in Garel. Cliron., A|ir.
Kclib. r. In Garcl. Cbron., Apr, 2S,
lì. +26; i, Auir. 2 (I. 239, 2. ; The Garden, X
(in note). O. cufcncs, Vcitch, Man. Orclv
Ch, 18S8,
¡2 (in note). O. Vuyhííicaiiinu var.
Odontoglossuni cxccllens originally appeared in .„. ,
importation made by Messii. Hugh l.ow & Co., of Clapton, It Is said tc
describing it, tlioughl it might be a natural hybrid between Odonlc^loss
is equally certain that Odontoglossum ti-iumphans an<l not O, tripudlans
on the same trec-s in company with this species and 0. I'cscatorel. Sine
other hybrids, a certain amount of variability has been Qb.?er^•ed. In iSI
but there can be no duubt it is but a variety of 0. cxcellens with the spc
described, though aftenvards its author transferred it as a variety of 0.
ground colour of the flower, and said to be spotte^l all over. The vai
Other varieties besides these here quoted exist to which no special .1,11
depth of the ground colour, the amount of spotting, and
ir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M
.•e been rcgarrteil as a yellow
Pescatorel and O, tripudians,
le other parent, for it has far n
s original introduction many
). eugenes appcareil, in
riety "
t Hurford I-odgc, Dorking, in 1881, from nn
itorei by the collector. I'rof. RcielicnlMch, in
hybrid origin is almost beyond doubt, and it
of the character of the first named, and occur»
:r individuals have ajipeared, and as in most
tloii made by Messrs. James Vdtch & .Son.%
iuner. in me folloiving year 0. Vuylstekoanum variety maculatum was
In 188« the variety ehrysomelanum appeared, without my white in the
lidward " (here illustrated) is one of the most brilliant varieties kno« n
applied ; indeed, ."ilraost every individual seems to dilTer somewhat in the
shape and breadth of the organs, according to whether the characters of
1 shape, bright yellow in
vo speeics have been reciprocally crosse<l. Unde'r these
One individual recently sent to Kew for determination
V spots. .Ml the forms arc extremely lovely.
« 1 rf
THIS is one of the brightest and most beautiful of the many supposed natural hybrid Odontoglossums that have yet
fio«-ered—intermediate iictvvcen 0. Pescatorei and O. triumplians. The late Professor H. G. Reichenbach regarded
it as an offspring of O. Pescatorei and O, tripudians in his description of the first plant of O. cxcellens that flowered
in Europe, and now in the collection of Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart,, M.P.; had, however, the very learned Professor seen
several forms at the time he made hi.s description he would probably have substituted O. triumphans for O. tripudian.s.
It is a fact well known to importers that all three species exist in sufficient cjuantities, and are located near enough in
a wild state to allow of their being freely cross-fertilised by insects; it is also cjuite within the limits of possibility
that at no very di.stant date the many seedling forms from pLmts that have been naturally hybridised will be very
puzzling to the student from their merging into each other in an almost imperceptible manner;—no two supposed
natural hybrids as yet bloomed arc alike. In addition to the original variety. Sir Trevor Lawrence owns O. exceilens
var, ehrysomelanum, which is without a white disc on the upper sepal and on the petals, while the lip and the column
arc also yellow. A very notable and grand variety is in The Dell collection at Stainas, which Baron Schroder,
appreciative of its rarity and value, .secured from its owner at a big figure, the plant being sold by us originally as an
imported Odontoglossum Pescatorei for the sum of two shillings and si.\pence. In the collection of his Grace the Duke
of Sutherland, at Trentham, is a variety named "eugenes," with chestnut-brown markings and a yellow margin to the
petals—a truly splendid form ; others have also flowered with some of our transatlantic amateurs—the finest .variety
known in the United States of Amcrica being O. exceilens var. Albert Edward, in the collection of F. L. Ames, Esq.,
Langwater, North Easton, Mass., and this truly grand form is the subject of our plate. We cordially endorse the
hope expressed by our most eminent authorities that in time the results of artificial hybridisation at home will assist
the amateur and the professional orchid grower in determining the parentage of many of the natural hybrids which at
present is only a matter of conjecture.