ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRÆ COOKSONII. [Plate 118.] Native of New Grenada.

ODONTOGLOSSUM ALEXANDRÆ COOKSONII. [Plate 118.] Native of New Grenada.

Epiphytal. Pseudobulbs oblong-ovate, compressed, diphyllous. Leaves ligulate-oblong, acute, channelled and narrowed towards the stalk-like base, of a cheerful green colour. Scape radical, supporting a many-flowered raceme exceeding the leaves, and having small acute bracts at the base of the pedicels. Flowers large and beautifully spotted; sepals ovate acuminate, the dorsal one rounded at the base into a short broadish claw, the margins revolute and undulate, white, with a few bold irregular blotches of brownish crimson, of which one is placed near the apex, and another forms an irregular transverse bar across the centre; the internal ones narrowing towards the base; petals broadly ovate acuminate, narrowed into a claw at the base, the margins entire, undulated, white like the sepals, with three or four rounder and smaller spots; lip oblong-ovate, with the shortly cuspidate apex recurved, the margins toothletted and much crisped, white, with a rich yellow stain on the disk, and a broad brown-crimson blotch on the anterior portion, the edges of the produced lobes inflected yellow striped with red, and broken up into a few short acute teeth; from its base proceed three blunt yellow ridges, of which the central one stops short with a blunt point, and the two side ones are continued into acute projecting yellow horns, having about midway an erect tooth on the upper margin. Column arcuately clavate, yellowish, winged, the wings white stripped with brown, toothed in the upper part, the teeth large, irregular, and set on behind the margin of the brownish prominent edge of the stigmatic cavity.

Odontoglossum Alexandræ Cooksonii, Williams and Moore, supra.

It is with the greatest pleasure that we are now enabled to present to the notice of our readers an illustration of this most splendid variety, which is, no doubt one of the best of the spotted forms of the Princess of Wales’s Odontoglot, Odontoglossum Alexandræ (crispum). We are greatly indebted to N. C. Cookson, Esq. of Wylam-on-Tyne, in whose honour it is named, for his kindness in sending such ample materials for figuring so splendid a variety. We are constantly receiving examples of charming forms of this beautiful Odontoglot, which is sought after so much by those who grow cool Orchids, for the plants take no more, or but little more room or heat than the commonest greenhouse plants. Indeed, they are quite easily grown when they get the proper treatment, and are planted in proper material. They must be kept cool during the summer months; and in winter the thermometer may range from 45° to 55°.

Odontoglossum Alexandræ Cooksonii is en evergreen plant, growing like O. Alexandræ itself, along with which it was imported. The sepsis and petals are white, 44 irregularly and heavily marked with brownish crimson; while the lip, which is of the some colour—white, and spotted with brownish crimson, bears in addition a golden yellow crest. It flowers during the summer, and lasts for about six weeks in bloom, requiring the same treatment as O. Alexandræ, which has been fully explained under Plate 47 of our first volume.

The Orchids at Dunlop House, Ayrshire, the seat of T. D. Cunningham Graham, Esq., include several wonderful specimens that have been many years attaining their present size; while it is remarkable to find such plants in perfect health. We were delighted to find such an example as may here be seen, of Angræcum sesquipedale, which from its size must have been one of those brought from Madagascar some years ago by the Rev. W. Ellis. This plant was nearly four feet in height, with two breaks at the bottom, and six flower spikes, perfect as a specimen, and such as those who are fond of well-grown plants would consider worth a long journey to see. Opposite to this were some remarkably fine plants of Vanda suavis, one of which is nine feet high in the main stem, with seven fine growths of four feet high, and five smaller growths. We believe we may safely say that this is one of the finest specimens we have ever seen. Vanda tricolor is nearly equally fine, having the main stem eight feet high, supplemented by four growths four feet high. There are besides other fine Orchids in the same house, and some good foliage plants, of which there is a fine collection. We have often heard it stated that Orchids cannot be successfully grown unless there is a house set apart for them; but the fact that these Vandas, Angræcums, &c., are grown in company with ordinary stove plants, at once upsets this notion, and proves that any one having a good stove may cultivate in them these most beautiful Orchids, which, we may add, are nearly always in bloom.

After leaving these grand plants we entered the principal Orchid house, wherein we also found many well-grown plants. We specially noticed Dendrochilum filiforme, a fine specimen, which had produced a great number of its drooping spikes. Vanda cœrulea was finely in bloom, as were Phalænopsis violacea, with its pretty violet coloured flowers, and P. grandiflora, a fine plant of a good variety. We were also glad to see the rare Cœlogyne ocellata maxima, a chaste and pretty Orchid. Arundina bambusifolia, was well in bloom, with four spikes of its light rose sepals and petals, and rich magenta lip. There were many fine Cattleyas and Lælias making good growths for next year; also Cypripedium superbiens, a fine specimen, and one of the best of the barbatum section. Next to it was a very large C. Dominianum, a pretty free-blooming hybrid, which continues flowering from the same spike for some months, a new flower coming on as soon as one goes off. There are many interesting plants grown at this place, and Mr. Kemp, the gardener, seems to take great interest in them, which is the way to ensure success.—B. S. W.

PL. 119. CYPRIPEDIUM SPICERIANUM.

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