xxvi. HISTORY OF ORCHID HYBRIDISATION. 



with the upper half of the latter white, the only other colour being a few 

 minute brown lines at the base of the petals and a few brown dots inside 

 the lip. In var. virginale (t. 24 a) there is a slight suffusion of brown in the 

 flower, and some purple veining on the petals and base of the dorsal sepal. 

 In var. Marie Closon (t. 246) the purple on the dorsal sepal takes the form 

 of a band, which extends to beyond the middle of the dorsal sepal. In var. 

 Cyrus (t. 24 d) the band on the dorsal sepal is broader and extends right to 

 the apex, while traces of lateral bands occur, with many brown dots on the 

 base of the dorsal sepal and petals. In var. CEdippe (t. 24 c) the greater 

 part of the dorsal sepal is suffused and veined with purple, and the whole 

 flower is darker in colour. Lastly, in var. Hebe (t. 24 b) both the petals and 

 dorsal sepal are closely spotted with dark brown all over, the spots on the 

 latter being purple where they extend into the white area. These remark- 

 ably diverse forms came out of the same capsule. 



The case of Dendrobium x Blackianum (Orch. Rev. 1904, p. 104) is 

 equally remarkable. It was obtained from D. Findlayanum crossed with 

 the pollen of D. X Wiganise, and exhibits a remarkable range of variation. 

 There are buff yellow forms, with the disc of the lip reddish maroon, and 

 varying considerably in size, others in which the coloured disc is greatly 

 reduced in size or almost absent, some with white ground colour and purple 

 tips to the sepals and petals, and a purple disc to the lip ; in short there are 

 forms approaching each parent in general character. 



Among Dendrobiums, Cattleyas, Odontoglossums and others cases could 

 be mentioned where a wide range of variation has been observed between 

 the offspring from the same capsule, and the more distinct the original species 

 the greater the possibilities of variation. This variation affords materials for 

 selection, and for great improvements in the future. 



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