ORCHIDS FOR THE AMATEUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21982, 17 June 1933, Page 5

ORCHIDS FOR THE AMATEUR

, Orpithidiiims as a genus are not particularly showy, but exception must be made to 0. sophronitis, which takes its name from the resemblance the flowers have in colour and shape to those of the popular Sophronitis grandiflora. Emrences lie in the facts that in ormthidium the (sepals are larger than the petals, which meet over and protect the yellow column and the basal part of the up, leaving, however, the blade of that organ quite free. This, too, differs from that of sophronitis, as it is fleshy and tonguelike. and wholly yellow. The plant* has small egg-shaped bulbs, each carrying two glossy dark green leaves, which persist for several years. The -rhizome is creeping, and the whole plant assumes a cushion-like appearance, pleasing even when out of flower, but decidedly attractive when thickly spangled with numerous flowers, which, though small, are both showy and attractive by reason of their brilliant colour, advantages intensified by their presence in the dull winter months. , , , The species resents too much heat, and can be accommodated in any greenhouse with a minimum temperature of 45deg to 30deg. From its spreading habit, shallow pans are preferable to pots, and the compose should be slightly mounded—that is, made rather higher in the centre than at the sides. With free drainage, abundance of water may be given in the summer months, and though, like many small-growing orchids, it will resist short droughts, the compost _ should be kept moist throughout the winter. . Plant names are not always obvious in their application, but in this plant the specific name strikes one as particular y apt. The flowers are larger than any others in the genus, and though not carried oh the long spikes associated witn many of our cultivated _ odontoglossums, their individual size, bright colour, and bold appearance more than compensate, and are the more acceptable—and noticeable, perhapS —as they are usually produced in September, and extend into October —sometimes later. Variation is present, as in all orcnms, but quite ordinary forms stretch six inches across the petals, though in vertical diameter such only measure four inches or a-little more These dimensiong,’ however, represent a fairly large

flower, quite large enough when the colour is considered, also, that live flowers on the stout, erect scapes are quite common. , , Ordinarily the three sepals, each over two inches in length, are tiger marked, their vellow ground being barred and blotched with light chestnut; the petals, longer and wider than the sepals, arc spread at right angles, and exhibit the same colouring, but the marginal third oi each is bright yellow, and the remainder light chestnut, the edges only being broken with yellow. The lip is first clawed, and then expands into an orbicular blade, an inch in diameter creamywhite, with reddish bars and reddisn marginal spots at the base. Above the lip, in the centre of the flower, is the brightly-marked crest- —a. fleshy oval excrescence of bright yellow and red, with two nipple-like processes in front, and two or four, usually white, fleshy teeth behind. The bulbs arc stout, set closely together, and with the two or three broadly oval, leathery leaves of a dull green. The flower spike is produced from the side of the new growths, usually before they have fully matured, hence watering must be continued until the flowering seasou is past and the bulbs have gained their full size, then it must be very infrequently given; in fact, if atmospheric moisture is present and but little artificial heat, none is required till growth commences. The plants may be kept in a cool house throughout the year, and, to avoid overwatering, placed on a shelf during the winter. With a little attention as to its requirements—or rather non-require-ments —in winter, it may be regarded as one of the showiest and most useful of orchids.

The one great objection to the everpopular Ccelogyne cristata is that the straggling habit of the plant requires and takes considerable space. In this respect it is not alone in the genus, but C. ochracea may be likened to a neat-grow-ing alpine plant in its_ closely-set, clustered pseudo-bulbs, each little more than an inch in height, almost four-sided, and carrying two deep green leaves. Erect spikes are produced from the centre of the young growths, carrying five or more flowers, not large, seldom reaching two inches in width, but attractive by reason of the glistening purity of the white sepals and petals. The lip is three-lobed, the side lobes white or streaked with red, the somewhat heart-shaped front lobe slightly reflexed, pure white at the tip. The centre of the lip is ornamental, yellow, orange margin blotches, the orange borders approaching red. In ths throat are two raised toothed plates. A charming species, and coming from the Khasia Hills, whence it was introduced in the early half of the last century, it does not mind a rather low temperature in the .winter, provided that it is fairly dry. A plant with 20 or 30 pseudo-bulbs, capable of producing five or more young growths, may be acco’inmodated in a fiveinch pan, and lends charm to the cool house in early summer, when the sweetscented flowers are usually seen. _When repotting is necessary, as with C. cristata, a few of the older bulbs may be taken off, so that the compact habit of the plant may be preserved, and a greater number of flower spikes he obtained in the pan or pot.

Compost and general treatment may be similar to those given to C. cristata, but with a species so much smaller and more compact in habit careless watering must be avoided in winter, and, as with all orehids which have the leaves of the young growths enfolded, syringing should be deferred until the leaves are fully developed, undue moisture in the young growths being thus avoided. The prevailing colour scheme in oncidium flowers is yellow, but a marked exception occurs in Forbes’s oncid, a beau-, tiful cool-house species, in which the flowers may be described as rich polished chestnut, broken with old gold on the margins of the lip and petals. Considered individually, the flowers are certainly among the most attractive in the genus, with broad, rounded petals, over an inch across, and a spreading lip, orbicular in outline, two inches in lateral diameter, frilled but not cleft, as in most oncidiums, yet so large as almost to hide the two lower sepals. In habit the species is distinct in its dark green, compressed pseudo bulbs, each carrying a single leaf. Though it grows intermixed ’ with other oncidiums on the Organ Mountains of Brazil, its neighbouring species are all two-leaved.

The spike is erect, often branched, and may .reach a height of 30 inches or more, but, unfortunately, really strong plants capable of producing such spikes are rarely met with. Quite small plants flower freely, and the ordinary spikes, usually produced in the autumn, are- so alluring, in that their very beauty encourages the cultivator to allow them to remain too long on the plant, consequently reducing it in size. Ample repayment would result if they were cut when fully open, and an endeavour made to grow the plants to full size. The treatment is that of the majority of cool-house oncidiums, but, as the plants are compact in habit, and not particularly strong-rooting, small pans are preferable to pots. After flowering, the pans should be hung near the glass, and the plants only watered during the winter, when it is absolutely necessary. Shrivelling must, however, be prevented. —E. C., in Amateur Gardening.