42 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [ FEBRUARY, 1922. 
following seasons. After the growth was made up the plants were removed 
to a slightly lower temperature in the Cattleya house, and no more water 
was given than that actually required to prevent the bulbs from shrivelling. 
Mormodes luxatum was originally described by Lindley in 1842, froma 
specimen which flowered in the colleetion of Mr. Barker, of Birmingham. 
It had been received from Mexico, having been sent home by Ross, who 
collected some masses of it in the neighbourhood of Valladolid. It was 
described as having pale lemon-yellow, fleshy, rather globular flowers, 
nearly three inches in diameter, but so distorted by the dislocation of parts 
that it would be difficult to ascertain their real nature were it not for the 
lip. The generic name is taken from mormo, a goblin, in allusion to the 
strange appearance of the flowers, which, we may add, are sweetly scented. 
Reichenbach recorded in 1878 a majestic peduncle, nearly three feet 
long, with twenty-five flowers in the collection of Sir Trevor Lawrence, 
Bart., at Burford, Dorking, and remarked that he had only once before seen 
it alive, when it flowered with Messrs. Backhouse, of York. Apparently he 
was not much struck with it, for he added: “ There is indeed a certain 
Orchid love required for the appreciation of this plant, for Mormodes are 
not in fashion.” But Sir Trevor Lawrence replied: ‘I cannot altogether 
agree with the learned Professor that it requires a special ‘Orchid love’ to 
like Mormodes luxatum. It is reallya grand plant—stately in flower and 
foliage, delicate in its pure ivory tint and in its scent, and quaint in its pure 
shell-shaped lip. To my eyes it possesses many varied beauties, enough of 
them to captivate all tastes.” (Gard. Chron., 1878, p. 396). 
In 1885 Messrs. Sanders flowered a variety, having numerous small 
reddish spots on the inside of the sepals and petals. It was recorded as 
var. punctatissimum. 
seven oe EF Sno 
ORcHID IMporTING.—It often happens that when being removed from 
their native resorts, the plants are injured by the collectors, and by the 
natives whom they employ to gather them from the high trees, and other 
Places difficult of access. hey are frequently packed in sacks and 
transported on the backs of mules, in order to reach the seaport for 
shipment; and the native men who help to pack them, are indifferent as to 
how the bulbs and foliage, which require so much care, are handled. The 
voyage these plants have to undergo is often very detrimental to them. 
good proportion of the importations, 
Standing the treatment they receive 
Orchid Manual. 
however, seem to endure, notwith- 
after their arrival here.—Williams’ 
