HISTORY OF ORCHID HYBRIDISATION 



double interest, being the first successful experiment undertaken to prove 

 the origin of a wild plant. When in 1853, Phalaenopsis intermedia first 

 appeared, as a single plant in an importation of Phalaenopsis Aphrodite 

 (then called P. amabilis) received from the Philippines, Dr. Lindley 

 suggested that it might be a natural hybrid between that species and 

 P. rosea. With a view to prove this hypothesis, Mr. Seden crossed P. 

 rosea with the pollen of P. Aphrodite, and when the resulting progeny 

 flowered for the first time, in 1886, it proved absolutely identical with the 

 wild P. X intermedia. 



In 1886, the work of two other hybridists appeared. Cypripedium X 

 lo was raised in the collection of Norman C. Cookson, Esq., Oakwood, 

 Wylam-on-Tyne, from C. Argus and C. Lawrenceanum, and C. X apiculatum 

 in that of D. O. Drewett, Esq., of Riding Mill-on-Tyne, from C. 

 barbatum and C. Boxallii. 



The work was now being rapidly extended over a wider field, for in 1887 

 hybrids raised by at least seven new operators flowered for the first time, 

 and Reichenbach remarked "All Orchidic England is engaged in the 

 procreation of mules." We may briefly mention them, but the great 

 extension of the work v/ill prevent us from giving more than a selection in 

 future. Dr. Harris, of Lamberhurst, Kent (a namesake of the gentleman 

 who gave Dominy the idea of hybridising Orchids), flowered Cattleya X 

 Harrisii, raised from C. Leopoldi and C. Mendelii, C. X Miss Harris, from 

 C. Mossiae and C. Schilleriana, and Lselia X Novelty, from L. pumila and 

 Lseliocattleya X elegans. W. Vanner, Esq., Camden Wood, Chislehurst, 

 flowered Dendrobium X Vannerianum, raised from D. moniliforme (japoni- 

 cum) and D. Falconeri. Captain Hincks, of Breckenbrough, Thirsk, 

 Yorks, raised Masdevallia X Hincksiana, from M. tovarensis and M. ignea. 

 Mr. F. Horn, gardener to Baron N. Rothschild, of Vienna, flowered 

 Cypripedium X Hornianum from C. superbiens and C. Spicerianum. 

 Messrs. F. Sander & Co., St. Albans, flowered Masdevallia X Geleniana, 

 raised from M. caudata and M. xanthina, Reichenbach remarking "This 

 is the dcbtU of Mr. F. Sander in Orchid hybridising, and very many more 

 are forthcoming." Lastly, we find two Cypripediums, X Charles Canham 

 and X Mrs. Canham, said to have been raised by an amateur, whose 

 name was not divulged, but has since been recorded as Mr. James Douglas. 

 They were obtained from C. superbiens and C. villosum, and the reverse 

 cross, and were sent out by Messrs. Veitch. 



Among the numerous hybrids of 1887 the most interesting was Zygoco- 

 lax X Veitchii, raised by Mr. Seden from Zygopetalum crinitum fertilised 

 with the pollen of Colax jugosus, which flowered when a little over five 

 years old. It marks the commencement of a new era in the nomenclature 

 of generic Orchid hybrids. Hitherto such plants had been referred to one 



