798 



MACROSCOPIC AND MICROSCOPIC CHARACTERS OP PLANTS. 



width $ of the upper epidermal cells of the proximal 

 part of the labellum. 



(6) Lower than in either parent: In the length of 

 the pseudobulb $ ', width of the pseudobulb $ ; width 

 of the epidermal cells S , and width of cells of the first 

 layer beneath the epidermis S on the transverse section 

 of the pseudobulb; length of the upper epidermal cells 

 at the middle of the leaf S ; width of the upper epidermal 

 cells at the base of the leaf S ', length $ , and width $ of 

 the lower epidermal cells of the leaf at the middle ; 

 length of the lower epidermal cells at the base 9 ; depth 

 of the lower epidermis ? , depth $ , and width $ , of the 

 midrib bundle 2 , depth of the phloem 9 and depth of 

 the xylem $ on the transverse section of the leaf at the 

 midrib ; width of the upper epidermal cells S , depth 

 of the first layer beneath the epidermis S , and diameter 

 of the lower sclerenchyma strands $ , on the transverse 

 section of the leaf at the first main vein; width of the 

 epidermal cells S , width of the cortex $ , length $ , and 

 width S , of the bundles on the transverse section of the 

 flower-stalk ; number of stomata $ , on the upper epi- 

 dermis of the sepals ; length of the hairs S , on the lower 

 epidermis of the sepals. (See Table J 20.) 



TABLE J 20. Summary of characters of hybrid-stock as regards 

 sameness, intermediateness, excess, and deficit of development 

 in relation to parent-stocks. 



3. MACROSCOPIC AND MICROSCOPIC CHARACTERS OF 

 CYMBIDIUM LOWIANUM, 0. EBURNEUM, AND C. 



EBURNEO-LOWIANUM. 



(Plate 31, figs. 184 to 189. Tables J, 21 to 28; I, 3; and 

 Summaries. Chart F 3.) 



GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



Data for these descriptions were obtained from 

 Eeichenbach (Gardeners' Chronicle, 1889, 363), Veitch 

 (Manual of Orchidaceous Plants, n, 14, 19, 23) and 

 Sander (Orchid Guide, 34, 35, 36). 



Cymbidium lowianum Reichb. f. (Seed Parent). 

 Pseudobulbs compressed, 4 to 6 inches in length. Leaves 

 24 to 30 inches long, lanceolate-ligulate, convolute into a 

 tube, yellowish to 3 to 4 inches from the base, keels 

 on the under side. Racemes robust, arching, as long as 

 the leaves, and bearing 15 to 36 flowers (the plant which 

 bloomed here had only 9 flowers). Bracts toward base 

 of flower-stalk sheathing, membranaceous, the larger ones 

 9 cm. long. Flowers large, borne on thick, fleshy pedicels 

 4 to 5 cm. long; sepals and petals similar, yellowish 

 green in color with a few faint sepia-brown lines over the 

 main veins, sepals obscurely keeled behind, petals a 

 little narrower than the sepals; labellum 3-lobed, the 

 lateral ones erect, light yellow, the median one deltoid, 

 reflexed with slight undulate margin, velvety, dark red- 

 crimson with a pale yellow margin, base of labellum 



white, crest two-keeled; column arched concave with a 

 few orange-red spots at the base on the concave face. 



Cymbidium eburneum Lindl. (Pollen Parent). 

 Pseudobulbs compressed, 3 inches in length. Leaves 

 linear, 15 to 24 inches long, convolute into a tube, yellow- 

 ish 3 inches from the base, and keeled on the under side. 

 Racemes erect, shorter than the leaves, and bearing 1 to 

 3 flowers. Bracts about 3 sheathing; alternate, lanceo- 

 late, acuminate. Flowers large, fragrant; sepals and 

 petals similar, ivory-white, dorsal sepal concave and 

 spiculate, the petals slightly narrower than the sepals 

 and somewhat sickle-shaped; labellum '3-lobed, the lat- 

 eral ones incurved toward the column and ivory-white, 

 the median one wide, reflexed, with crisped margin, ivory- 

 white sometimes with some scattered purple dots around 

 the yellow disk, crest fleshy, grooved, pubescent, yellow, 

 thickened at apex and with three raised lines extending 

 the whole length ; column arched with two narrow wings, 

 white above, concave in front with a purple stain. 



Cymbidium eburneo-lowianum (Hybrid). Pseudo- 

 bulbs ovoid, compressed, 2 and a half to 4 inches long. 

 Leaves broader than in C. eburneum, but narrower than 

 in C. lowianum, convolute and yellowish 3 to 4 inches 

 from the base. Racemes arching, longer than the leaves, 

 bearing in this instance 5 flowers. Bracts long, narrow, 

 and very acuminate. Flowers large, faintly fragrant; 

 sepals and petals similar, pale yellowish-brownish-green, 

 with faint reddish-brown lines along the veins, the dorsal 

 sepal bent forwards, the lateral sepals and petals spread- 

 ing; labellum 3-lobed near that of C. lowianum, lateral 

 lobes pale yellow, median lobe pale yellow above the 

 crest and above that a V -shaped dark brownish-red area 

 with pale yellow wavy margin, the crest a broad yellow 

 band at the base rising with 2 bright yellow ridges; 

 column ivory-white, with reddish stain, near the anther 

 case. 



COMPARISONS OF THE MACROSCOPIC CHARACTERS. 

 ROOTS. 



The roots arise from base of pseudobulb. They are 

 thick and fleshy, and do not differ in any important re- 

 spect in the parents and hybrid. 



PSEUDOBULBS. 



The pseudobulbs are ovoid, compressed, surrounded 

 by sheathing leaf bases, larger in C. lowianum than in 

 C. eburneum. In the hybrid though they are in size 

 between the parents, they are much nearer to C. ebur- 

 neum than to C. lowianum. The following were the 

 lengths of the pseudobulbs: C. lowianum 9.8 cm.; C. 

 eburneum 1 cm. ; C. eburneo-lowianum 7.6 cm. 



LEAF. 



The leaves are equitant (the first arising from the 

 base of the pseudobulb), are rather short, then gradually 

 increasing in length upwards. C. lowianum bears long 

 wide leaves that drop rather deeply; C. eburneum, 

 shorter narrower leaves that stand almost erect; the 

 hybrid, leaves that are intermediate between those of the 

 parents in width, length, and amount of drooping, but 

 leaning, except in length of the leaves of the preceding 

 year, toward C. eburneum. (Table J 21.) 



