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210 



ME. B. A. KOLFE ON THE 



two drawings were evidently made by the same hand and at 

 the same time, for the colours used as well as the workmanship are 

 so identical as to leave no doubt on the subject. Looking at 

 the two, there cannot be the slightest doubt that they repre- 

 sent respectively the male and female sexes of the same species. 



now return to Lindley's published figure of so-called 

 xanthus viridis*, which appeared four years after the 



We 



Mo 



original description was published ; but only to find that a 

 second species is represented under the same name. Although 

 Lindley here states this to be the original species on which the 

 genus was founded, it is clear that such was not the case. It is 

 simply a case of mistaken identity. At this time the connection 

 between the plant figured and Catasetum tridentatum, though 

 pointed out to Lindley, was not admitted by him, as he afterwards 

 states t. 



This appears to me to have introduced the first element of 

 confusion into the question. The 



Monach 



Mya 



above pointed out; but now Lindley complicates matters by 

 figuring the female of a second species, namely Catasetum tri- 

 dentatum, as Monachanthus viridis. The question becomes still 

 further involved when Schomburgk figures the female of yet 

 a third species, namely Myanthus barbatus, also as Monachanthus 

 viridis. 



Nor is this all ; for in 1844 Lindley observed of Catasetum 

 cristatum, "Has been found to sport into G. tridentatum" %• In 

 fact, the idea appears to have been fast gaining ground that the 

 ordinary conceptions about species could not be applied to 

 Catasetum^ which might sport into almost anything ; for when 







> 







• 



M This is the original species on which the genus was founded. Its habit 

 is so li':e Catasetum fridentatum, that we long doubted whether it ought to be 

 generically separated Our figure was made from a specimen communi- 

 cated last^ November from Wentworth, by permission of Lord Fitzwilliam. We 

 are not aware at what time, or by whom it was imported, but it has probably 

 been taken for a green form of the common Catasetum tridentatum, and conse- 

 quently no record has been kept of it*— Lindley, Bot. Reg. t. 1 752. 



t Even when Lord Fitzwilliam assured me that it was beyond all doubt an 

 accidental sport of Catasetum tridenfatum, I still adhered to my idea that an 

 imported plant of Monachanthus viridis had been accidentally taken for the 

 latter common piant"— Lindley, Bot Reg. t 1951 *. 



\ Lindley, Bot. Reg. xxx. Misc. p. 39. 













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