113 
mium enclosed by two petals to a certain extent grown together 
and twisted. 
The fourth flower was the only remarkable one as one 
of the petals, flanking the gynostemium, was attached to 
its back. Whether this was really or seemingly so, I cannot 
decide — in observing this coalescing petal I thought it 
more probable that the stamen which forms the back of the 
gynostemium had developed in a petaloid way (as occurs from 
time to time) and moreover it formed a whole with the said 
petal. It is of no use to discuss this point without the aid of 
figures and unnecessary for those who are acquainted either by 
personal observation or by figures with the tetramerous flowers. 
1895 was a very favourable year for the specimen in front 
of the head-gardener’s house. As early as December 1894 the 
pseudo-parasite was adorned with numerous flowering stalks. 
Also the tetramerous flowers were abundant. Mr. Smith greatly 
obliged me by forwarding as soon as possible some of the 
most striking specimens. A careful examination showed that 
the tetramerous flowers to a certain extent were less disturbed. 
Of the five flowers examined three had a normal anther with 
pollinia, whereas the two others showed these parts defective. 
Still all these flowers are superior to those observed in 1892, 
which without exception were destitute of pollen and anther. 
The stigma also showed less degeneration — a cavity filled with 
moisture was in two cases very distinct, in the three other 
ones less so or altogether absent. An ovary-cavity however could 
not be ascertained in any of the flowers. As in the Orchid- 
garden properly so called, Grammatophyllum speciosum is also being 
cultivated, viz. on Avia borbonica, Mr. Smith extended his obser- 
vations to those specimens, and sent me the principal deviations 
he came across. For brevity’s sake I shall only mention those 
flowers, in which some peculiarity was to be observed. 
1° Three distinctly developed stigmas; consequently the 
rostellum has reverted to the original shape. The auriculae 
appear exceptionally big and bear each of them a brown tip 
(rudiment of an anther, 1, 2). 
Ann. Jard. Bot. Vol. XIII, 1. 8 
