These plants are not so easy to cultivate as some other Orchids; but, by bestowing on them a little extra care and attention, they may be kept in a thriving and healthy condition. We find them to grow best in small pans, nearly filled with drainage, and a lump of charcoal on the top of it; place the plant on the top of this with but little rough fibrous peat or live sphagnum moss about the roots, and so that it is elevated a little above the rim, as it has the peculiarity of throwing its flower-spike downwards.
This species is a native of Guiana, and of the adjacent island of Trinidad. In the latter it is found growing on decayed branches of trees in the neighbourhood of the mud lake. In the former it occurs in the warmer parts of Demerara, and, consequently, must be cultivated in the warm house, and kept in a moist atmosphere during the season of its growth; when at rest, however, a smaller quantity of water will suffice, but it should never be allowed to shrivel, as, when once its condition becomes bad, it is very difficult to restore its health.
Odontoglossum Alexandræ flaveolum.—Whoever expected ten years ago to see a yellow-flowered _Odontoglossum Alexandræ_ (?) No one, we should think, unless it were by a great stretch of the imagination. However, here is one from the fine collection of G. Hardy, Esq., of Timperley, Manchester. The flowers in every respect resemble those of _O. Alexandræ_, except in their colour, which is a bright canary-yellow. The spike before us bears fifteen expanded flowers, and is one of the greatest surprises we have had the good fortune to meet with for a long time. It is true that distinct varieties of this “the Queen of Orchids” are turning up almost every day, but one seldom has a chance of seeing an entirely new break of colour of this sort. We believe that a variety with yellow flowers bloomed some time ago in the Broomfield collection, but the colour was not so decided in Mr. Warner’s plant as it is in the case now before us.—B. S. W.
[Illustration: PL. 35. ODONTOGLOSSUM ANDERSONIANUM.]
ODONTOGLOSSUM ANDERSONIANUM. [Plate 35.] Native of New Grenada.
Epiphytal. _Pseudobulbs_ ligulate-pyriform, costate, two or three inches high. _Leaves_ broadly linear, acute, about a foot long, of a light green colour, two from the top of each pseudobulb, with occasionally another from its base. _Scape_ radical, spreading, more or less drooping, supporting a branching raceme about two feet long. _Flowers_ resembling those of _Odontoglossum Alexandræ_, but smaller, prettily spotted; _sepals_ ovate-oblong, acute, slightly crispy, creamy white, heavily and irregularly blotched on the lower half with bright chestnut-brown, the attenuated upper half unspotted; _petals_ similar in form and colour, the blotches which are also on the lower half smaller, and more thickly placed; _lip_ from a cuneate base, pandurate, narrow in front, apiculate, distinctly wavy and toothed, creamy white, yellow at the base, with fewer and smaller brown spots; disk deep yellow, with a prominent crest dividing in front into two divergent horns. _Column_ greenish towards the base, brown in front, the wings and anther-case white.