166 MR. R. A. ROLFE ON 
pium crossed with Chysis. These two genera are very closely 
allied, the two genera placed between them by Bentham being 
Phaius and Calanthe. Zygopetalum crossed with Lycaste fur- 
nishes an almost parallel case to the same genus crossed with 
Colar; and therefore calls for no special comment. Bletia 
crossed with Calanthe is almost analogous with Phaius crossed 
with Calanthe, as Bletia and Phaius stand together in Bletidee, 
while Calanthe is placed in Cwlogynee. Odontoglossum crossed 
with Zygopetalum is an interesting connection, the former being 
placed in Oncidiee, the latter in Cyrtopodiee. The same genera, 
crossed the reverse way, are mentioned in a footnote on p. 163. In 
that case the result of the cross was always simply Z. Mackayi (the 
mother plant), a fact somewhat difficult to account for. But the 
last connection is a very remarkable one, namely, Chysis crossed 
with Zygopetalum.  Chysis belongs to the tribe Epidendree, 
Zygopetalum to Vandee. As to these primary divisions of the 
Order, no difference of opinion exists between botanists; and the 
pollinaria are so different in the two cases, that the results of 
future experiments in this direction, either as confirming or dis- 
proving the possibility of hybridization between such diverse 
genera, will be awaited with great interest. 
We therefore see that the results of hybridization in this Order 
have been of a remarkable and somewhat unlooked-for nature— 
results which may or may not have avery important bearing upon 
classification, according to the light in which they are considered. 
Hitherto, as we have already seen, bigeneric hybrids have either 
been placed in one of the parent genera, or some rearrangement 
has been proposed in order to harmonize with the supposed new 
discoveries. If this course is to be persisted in, no finality can 
ever be anticipated while these hybridizing experiments continue. 
Calanthe Dominii, raised between C. masuca and C. furcata, was 
the first artificial hybrid Orchid which flowered. When, in 
October 1856, it was shown to Dr. Lindley, he remarked to the 
late Mr. Veitch, “ Why! you will drive the botanists mad.” And 
if our ideas of classification must be taken from the hybridist, 
there is much truth in the remark. I do not, however, think 
such a course is either desirable or necessary. These hybrids are 
mostly artificial productions; and, for various reasons, very few 
of them may be expected to occur in a state of nature. Over a 
hundred have been raised in gardens in this country; and of 
these only two are known in a wild state. Phalenopsis inter- 
