64 
favour of its affinity with Wymphea, in which the same process 
exists. 
M. D’Orbigny’s memoir, occupying five pages, professes 
to be on the species of the genus Victoria, and he says that 
in addition to V. regia, there is a second species, called by 
him V. Cruziana ; he gives for the two supposed species what 
he terms distinctive phrases, duly written in Latin, in the 
form of specific characters, upon the most approved plan, each 
occupying four printed lines. This array of technical terms 
only means however, being interpreted, that V. regia has the 
leaves purple on the under side, and the external petals white, 
with the interior red ; while V. Cruziana has the leaves green 
on each side, and all the petals red. Let it not be supposed 
however that five pages, and so much learning are expended 
upon so mean a result. M. D'Orbigny's real object is to give 
an account of his own discoveries, and to complain of their 
having been anticipated by me in this country. In what way 
however any blame attaches to me I am at a loss to under- 
stand. The plant was discovered in an English Colony, by a 
distinguished naturalist in English pay, and by him it was 
communicated to me for publication: 1 knew nothing of M. 
D’Orbigny, or of his discoveries, nor does he pretend that I 
did. But he says that he sent home specimens to Paris in 
1828, only his friends at Paris did not make them known; 
that he talked about his “belles plantes” to M. Adolphe 
Brongniart, in 1834; that in 1835, at p. 289 of the “relation 
historique" of his travels, **il a indiqué sommairement sa 
découverte, sans lui imposer de nom botanique ;” and that he 
“* eprouvait une veritable peine” when he found in 1837 that 
his plant was published by me with the “nom pompeux” of 
VICTORIA REGIA. In answer to all which I humbly submit to 
M. D'Orbigny that his specimens were not sent to me ; that 
I am not M. Adolphe Brongniart ; that I am very sorry for 
his distress of mind; and that le nom pompeux de Victoria is- 
the name of the Queen of England. 
134. € EPIDENDRUM densiflorum. Hooker in Botanical Mag. t. 3791. 
This plant, with densely spiked, panicled flowers of a 
greenish yellow colour, relieved by a white 4-lobed lip, 
appears to be the same as the E. floribundum of Humboldt 
and Kunth. | 
