672 A.Mioy. 



DENDROBIUM Sw. 



Dendrobiurr. Lyonii Ames Orchidaceae 2 (1908) 177. 

 D. acuminatum Kriinzl. in Orchis 2: 73, not Rolfe. 



Dr. F. Kriinzlin in "Orchis" reduces this species. lie refers it to the 

 synonymy of Dendrobium acuminatum Kolfe. The colored plate which accom- 

 panies his article is a fair portrait of D. Lyonii and very unlike Dcnilrobium 

 acuminatum. As Dr. Kriinzlin has expressed the opinion that D. Lyonii is not 

 specifically distinct from D. acuminatum and as he has treated it as a variety 

 of this s|Hvics. supplementary remarks in those 1 published in "Orchidaceae* seem 

 called for, especially as Dr. Kriinzlin has asserted that the illustration of D. 

 acuminatum in "Orchidaceae"' (plate 17) is erroneous and worthless as scientific 

 c\ iilence. 



Aside from the structural differences between D. Lyonii and /). acuminatum. 

 outlined in the original descriptions, there are constitutional differences, if we 

 may rely on the authority of Mr. Lyon, who has collected both species and 

 who has grown them in his garden at Manila. Mr. Lynn assures me that the 

 elevations along the mountains of Bataan where these species grow have been 

 Carefully estimated and that 1). acuminatum is aoi found below three thousand 

 feet and that it is abundant at an altitude of 3.700 teet. D. Lyonii, on the other 

 hand, does not occur above the third Forest Station (2,200 feet) and is found in 

 a narrow zone between 1,700 and 2,000 feet. This difference in distribution is 

 accentuated by the behavior of the plants under culture. At sea level in Manila 

 D. acuminatum is tractable and easily brought to flower, while D. Lyonii is with 

 diiheulty kept alive. 



Mr. Lyon who has studied both species in the field and in his gardens of Nag- 

 tahan, Manila, writes in a tetter dated January 14, 1 009 : "1 notice of course in 

 reading your diagnoses that you lay little if any stress upon vegetative features, 

 but the one I have called your attention to. the presence of an awn or short hard 

 tooth, at the apex of pseudobulbs of /). Lyonii, is a constant feature." "Since the 

 receipt of your letter 1 have gone over my entire collection, 85 plants of I). Lyonii 

 and 34 of D. acuminatum and I find that this holds universally good. The apical 

 tooth (rather than awn) is very persistent as well as the old Mower scape. The 

 old flower-scapes decay and fall away from D. acuminatum the same season, while 

 those on D. Lyonii persist certainly for three or more years." 



Mr. Lyon asserts that D. acuminatum is practically scentless, while I). Lyonii, 

 especially in the morning, and more or less all the time, is strongly and delight- 

 fully fragrant. 



Dr. Kran/.lin's criticism of plate 11 of "Orchidaceae"' is not justified by fads. 

 The plate" in question was prepared from a co-type of D. acuminatum, as is stated 

 on the second page of Fasc. II. The flowers were drawn with reasonable regard 

 to accuracy and the material which furnished them was carefully preserved for 

 reference. Dr. Kriinzlin assumes that the Mowers wire drawn smaller than they 

 are in nature and that failure to designate the amount of reduction renders the 

 plate worthless as scientific evidence. He bases his remarks on the measurements 

 given in Mr. Rolfe's original description of D. acuminatum, hi my redescription 

 on page 171 the sepals are given as "up to 3 cm long.'' In the plate the upper- 

 most flower has lateral sepals that measure 2.7 cm long. In the specimen from 

 which the plate was prepared the lateral sepals are 2.3 to 3 cm in length. 

 Dr. Kriinzlin fails to make, allowance for foreshortening in the drawing, and, 

 therefore, makes an unjust criticism. 



