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One of the greatest peculiarities of Catasetums is that they produce both eg and female flowers. ake 
other genus of Orchids, so far as is at present known, with the exception of the very curious and highly Sue 
Cycnoches, produces other than hermaphrodite flowers. On beholding the female flowers of a Catasetum for the first 
time, it is, therefore, not to be wondered at that Dr. Lindley should have established such genera as Myanthus and 
Monochanthus, so very different were they from the ordinary male flowers. Owing to these polymorphisms of the genus 
much confusion was caused among botanists until that great naturalist, the late Charles Darwin, carefully investigated 
Catasetums, and fully explained, in his work on the Fertilisation of Orchids, their propensity to produce male and female 
flowers. Within the last year C. pileatum has produced female flowers in two or three different parts of the algae 6 
One of the cases occurred in our own houses, and as the difference in structure between the two kinds of flowers is so 
great, we give representations of both. Our illustration shows the ordinary male flowers, and the woodcut, for the loan 
of which we are indebted to Mr. Shirley Hibberd, editor of the Gardeners’ Magazine, gives a correct idea of the female 
flowers which appeared in our nursery. Mr. John Weathers, when fully describing this particular case in Mr. Hibberd’s 
journal in December, 1889, p. 769, says: “In August male and female flowers were produced on the same plant, but 
from two different pseudo-bulbs. These were side by side, and sprang off the same rhizome. The male flowers were nine 
in number, but did not expand until the female flowers began to wither. This seems somewhat peculiar at first, but 
nature has evidently decided that it is best for the female flowers to be fertilised with pollen from a different plant instead 
of its own. The female flowers were two in number, although there was a bud at the base of the ovary of one (the upper- 
most in the drawing), but it never developed, so 1 can only surmise that it was a flower-bud, whether male or female was, 
of course, impossible to say. It will be noticed that the lips are undermost. In most cases they are uppermost, but in 
this particular instance they did not reach that inverted condition until after the flowers had withered. The sepals and 
petals were broadly lanceolate-acute, much reflexed, and at first pale green, but eventually becoming white. When first 
open the pouch was somewhat longer and narrower than represented in the sketch, and traversed by single veins at equal 
distances apart. The colour was of the deepest green both inside and out, but after three days the outer angle of each 
pouch began to turn pure white, and remained so until the finish. The change of colour in the pouch first took place 
within, the deep green gradually becoming paler and paler, until at length it assumed a rich yellow colour, similar to that 
of the yolk of an egg. The pouch is very thick and fleshy, and this yellow colour gradually permeated it, giving the 
outer surface that of a dull straw yellow appearance. The column isa short, thick, triangular body, confluent with the 
lip, having a depression (no doubt the stigmatic cavity) on the under surface, and a pure white ovate-falcate horn in 
front, just above another slight depression. What the use is of the horn in front of the column, I cannot say; but no 
doubt it has to serve some purpose, if we are to believe that nature never uses more organs than are found to be 
absolutely necessary.” It will be seen what a great difference exists between the two kinds of flowers, and if com- 
parisons are to be drawn between them, it must be admitted that the male flowers are much more beautiful and attractive 
than the female. 
Catasetum pileatum of Reichenbach, and C. Bungerothii of N. E. Brown are identical. In 1882 M. Linden, a 
nurseryman of Brussels, sent specimens of a Catasetum to Reichenbach, saying they had come from Venezuela. The 
Professor, finding he had a new species, described it in the Gardeners’ Chronicle as Catasetum pileatum. Again, in 
1886, Reichenbach received specimens of the same species, and again a description of them appeared in the Gardeners’ 
Chronicle under the name of C. pileatum. A glance at the cap-like male flowers will show how singularly appropriate 
and descriptive is the name “ pileatum” which Reichenbach selected. There is no doubt that he was perfectly aware of 
his Catasetum pileatum being the same as Mr. Brown's C. Bungerothii, for in a letter to us dated Aug. 8, 1887, he 
wrote: “ Baron Schréder has sent me, through Ballantine, an enormous spike of Catasetum pileatum ;” and this was 
from the plant bought by the Baron in Stevens’ auction rooms as C. Bungerothii. According to the laws of botanical 
nomenclature, therefore, Catasetum pileatum is the correct name for the plant known as C. Bungerothii, on account of its 
description having been published some years previous to that of the latter. This is an instance where we are made to 
feel very keenly the act of Reichenbach in locking up his herbarium for twenty-five years to prevent reference to his 
specimens. 
Unfortunately we have been unable to substitute the name of C. pileatum for that of C. Bungerothii on our plates, 
as these latter were all printed before we began to write the letter-press and look up the information concerning the plant. 
Although introduced only three years, the readiness with which €. pileatum has lent itself to the effects of 
cultivation has been gratifying. The plants grow very freely and flower profusely, and we cannot but think they thrive 
quite as well, if not better, in our orchid houses than in the forests of Venezuela. They require to be grown in a warm, 
moist house in a compost of fibrous peat and chopped sphagnum. We find baskets most suitable, and these should be 
suspended from the roof so as to give as much light as possible, without, however, allowing the fierce rays of the sun to 
shine directly on the plants in summer. About February growth begins, and the plants should then be repotted if 
necessary. At first water must be given sparingly, the quantity being gradually increased as the growths develop more 
rapidly. When the growing period is drawing to a close, the flower spikes then appear, and this is a sign to diminish 
the supplies of water. In winter the plants should be placed in a ho 
use with a temperature not lower than 55 deg. to 
60 deg. F., and must enjoy complete rest for two or three months, duri 
ng which time they should receive no water. 
From a plant now in the possession of Mons. le Comte de Germiny, Chateau de Gouville, prés Cleres France 
