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The Oncidium Section OBLONGAGA
This Section is a quite large one containing some 31 species. Plants of this group also have
conspicuous pseudobulbs. It produces bracts which are inconspicuous, being many times shorter than the stalk and
ovary of the flower. The petals and sepals are somewhat similar, the lateral sepals are free, shorter than the
lip. The disc of the lip bears an uneven number of tubercules without accessory protuberances. The rostellum is
short.2
The species included in this Section are ampliatum, antioquiense, cabagrae,
caminiophorum, caucanum, chrysomorphum, citrinum, cogniauxianum, dichromaticum, drepanopterum, floridanum, gyrobulbon,
hieroglyphicum, isthmii, lentiginosum, leucochilum, maizaefolium, massangei, mathieuanum, nebulosum, oblongatum,
orthostates, pardalis, reflexum reichenbahii, schilleranum, sessile, tectum, tetra- skelidion, tigrinum and volvox.2
The type species of this Section is tigrinum
2 described as one of the most beautiful and free blooming of the large flowered
yellow oncidiums. It produces branching panicles of flowers during the dull months of autumn and winter, which
greatly enhances its value, and it lasts six weeks in bloom.7 Its pseudobulbs
are rather globular and compressed, being some 75 to 100 mm in diameter. There are two to three leaves 225 to 300
mm long, folded at the base, rather leathery in texture. The inflorescence is stout, usually erect, to 1 metre
tall, loosely panieled, rather many flowered. Individual. flowers are about 75 mm long, long lasting, the sepals
and petals bright yellow, more or less heavily blotched with rich brown. The lip is large, spreading, vivid yellow,
sometimes with a brownish suffusion on the broad isthmus. Autumn-winter flowering, it is native of Mexico.1 It has been in cultivation since 1840, and is a cooler growing species.6
Oncidium tigrinum
In hybridisation, this species has been used with considerable success, especially in intergeneric
breeding with odontoglossums and also with oncidium species, and it is said to impart vigour, large lip size and
excellent spikeg.31
The other important species of this section is leucochilum, a desirable and beautiful species, of which there are many varieties, some richer in colour than others.
It blooms at different times of the year, and lasts a long time in perfections. produces clustered, rather compressed
pseudobulbs, ribbed with age, some 75 to 125 mm long. The normally two leaves are 200 to 300 mm long. The inflorescence
is 1.6 to 4 metres long, very profusely branched, almost from its base, the slender branches few to many flowered.
The flowers are waxy, long lasting, variable in size and dimensions, to more than 30 mm long. The sepals and petals
are usually pale yellowish-green, more or less densely covered with confluent greenish-brown to rich brown-purple
bars. The ornate. lip is mostly white. It is native of Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras.1 Cultivated since 1840, and there are a number of varieties flower spikes can take some time (sometimes
up to nine months) to fully develop. This species has also been used in breeding, being an important source of
dark colour inheritance as well as fine inflorescence habit. It is a vigorous grower, and free flowering under
proper conditions, although Carpenter notes it seldom breeds as a female parent.31
Moir 8 believes tigrinum, oblongatum, and isthmii are most useful in the breeding of large
flowered intergenerics.
* ONCIDIUM SLIDE SHOW *
A SERIES OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF ONCIDIUM ORCHIDS- click
on above link
A schedule of flowering times for the Crispa Section oncidiums is available on the follwing link
Crispa Section flowering times
Remember,
growing orchids is all about enjoying your plants
and sharing your growing success with friends and family.
Good luck and good growing.
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