V] 



Reversion in Orchids 



97 



Lawrenceanum Hyeanum when selfed, gave 14 albinos, but 

 in addition, one coloured plant, which Mr Cookson tells me 

 cannot be thought to have resulted from error. Such an 

 occurrence is as yet unaccountable, but otherwise all is clear. 



In addition to the cases given above there are many in 

 which C. insigne Sanderianum and insigne Sanderae were 

 used, but Mr Hurst tells me that of these the latter is 

 certainly a tinged type, while the former has some dark 

 hairs on its petals which may contain sap-colour. Some of 

 the crosses with these types gave reversionary offspring, 

 and others gave various whites. 



The genus Cattleya provides another list of comparable 

 cases. For instance 



C Mossiae Wageneri x C. Gaskelliana alba gave 4 albinos 



(Hye). 



„ „ X C. intermedia alba gave 14 albinos 



(Holford). 



C. Sckroderae alba x C. intermedia alba gave coloured 



offspring (Cookson). 



C, Gaskelliana alba x C.Ha7^7^isoniana alba gdive ^coloured 



plants (Thwaites). 



„ „ X C. Warneri alba gave 5 albinos and 



2 coloured plants (Peeters). 



„ „ X C. Mendelii alba gave 2 F^ pink 



flush (Thwaites, Gard. Chron. 

 1 9 10, I. p. 62). 



From these statements it may with great probability be 

 inferred that the albinism of Mossiae Wageneri, Gaskelliana 

 alba and intermedia alba is due to the absence of one factor 

 (say C) ; that in Harrisoniana alba and Sckroderae alba it 

 is the other complementary factor which is wanting (say R) ; 

 and that Warneri alba is heterozygous for the presence of 

 one of them (being Cc, on this scheme). It is to be hoped 

 that some Orchid grower will make the various unknown 

 combinations and extend the series. 



There are, besides the cases enumerated, many instances 

 in Cypripediumy Cattleya, and other genera, of various 

 tinged types breeding true when self-fertilised and giving 

 reversionary coloured offspring when crossed. 



B. H. 7 



