Dendrobium ochreatum Lindl.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘[Dendrobium cambridgeanum was] Drawn from a plant which flowered in the Orchideous house of the Royal Gardens, April 1849, derived from the collection of the late Rev. J. Clowes.  It is a plant of great beauty, brought from India to Chatsworth by Mr. Gibson, collector for His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, in 1837, and honoured by a specific name after that of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge.  Dr. Lindley alludes to its affinity with D. Paxtoni, but that is characterized by “petalis serrulatis,” and ” labello ovato ...... margine multifido-fimbriato;” and to D. chrysanthum, which is described “labello denticulato retuso obsolete trilobo,” and no notice is taken of any villosity.  The prolonged spur is remarkable.  I cannot therefore but record it as a distinct species.’  [BM t.4450/1849].

Introduced to Britain in 1837.  [JD].  MB p.265/1839.

History at Camden Park

The only reference to this plant is a hand written entry in a copy of the 1850 catalogue held at the Mitchell Library [ML 635.9m].  This copy bears William Macarthur’s signature and the date 23rd Dec. 1854.  It did not appear in the printed 1857 edition but was certainly grown in the gardens at this time.

Notes