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and most distinct in the genus, should not have reappeared — at least not in its 
original form. 
The plant we now figure appears at the first glance so distinct from 
Linptey’s plant that a comparison of the figures alone might lead one to 
question the propriety of considering it a variety of the same species, but the 
only tangible difference it possesses is the rich spotting of the sepals and 
petals, and a little difference in the shade of the ground colour. The shape and 
size of the bracts and flowers are almost identical in the two, and, as the 
spots vanish in drying, it is almost impossible to distinguish the two in the 
dried state. It therefore seems probable that this Mormodes, like several others, 
will be found to be very variable in colour when better known. I have therefore 
very little hesitation in regarding it as a variety of M. ignewm Linvv. 
It was introduced from Peru by Messrs Linpen, L’HorticuLTurE INTER- 
NATIONALE, Brussels, with whom it flowered in November last. The sepals and 
petals are dusky yellowish brown, richly spotted all over with largish deep 
purple-brown or almost liver-coloured spots. The lip is somewhat similar, but 
the ground colour reddish-buff, inclining to copper-colour. The column is 
spotted with dark purple on a light ground. It is a handsome variety. 
. Darwin’s observations on the fertilisation of the flowers of this species 
are very interesting. He showed that when a largish insect alighted on the 
labellum, perched, as it is, on the top of the twisted column, and reached over, 
it would liberate the sensitive and highly elastic pollinia, which would inevitably 
be precipitated on the head of the insect, and attached there by the viscid gland. 
In its flight, however, it curls up like a hoop, with the anther case serving 
to prevent the pollinia from being permanently glued to the gland. As the 
moisture dries up, the hoop straightens itself and the anther-case falls off. This 
occupies from ten to fifteen minutes, after which the pollinia would not fail 
to be left on the stigma of any flower subsequently visited. 
R. A. Rotre. 
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