﻿96 



MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN, 



single pollen mass. The stigma was rather smaller than nor- 

 mal. 



The second flower was normal except for the right hand 

 petal, which had grown fast to the column. The right wing of 

 the column was three times as large and situated higher than 

 the normal left wing. The stigma was abnormally elongated. 

 There were two single pollen masses, abnormally large and 

 not enclosed in the anther cases. The latter were rudiment- 

 ary and situated at some distance at the back of the column. 



The third flower was normal except for the left petal, which 

 had grown fast to the column. 



The fourth flower possessed all its parts but the right petal 

 was fused with the labellum and also with the column. On 

 that side the wing of the column was missing. 



In view of the structure of these abnormal flowers it would 

 perhaps be better to interpret the flower here illustrated as 

 having three sepals, 1, 2 and 5. The two petals remain 3 and 



4. To account for the sixth segment one would have to as- 

 sume that the labellum had become fused with the column. 

 This would help to explain the anomalous position of the sepal 



5. What further lends color to this is the fact that the wings 

 of the column are not only enlarged but also are provided 

 with coloring matter, something which normally is not the 

 case. 



As far as our experience goes, it would seem that the 

 amount and position of the color in the floral parts of Odonto- 

 glossum Cervantesii and its varieties is quite constant. Nearly 

 a century has elapsed since the species was brought from 

 Mexico. It is of easiest culture and opportunity for observa- 

 tion has been ample. From time to time there have ap- 

 peared plants which differed from it in a few characters, and 

 which have been given either specific or varietal rank. The 

 more conservative authors of the present day recognize be- 

 side the species but three varieties, i. e., var. majus, var. de- 

 corum and var. Andersonii, the differences lying chiefly in the 

 size of the flower and in the shape, color and markings of the 

 segments. It appears that these characters, and especially 

 the markings, which consist of narrow bands and sometimes 

 spots of red at the base of the petals and sepals and which 



