May, 1922.) THE ORCHID REVIEW. ° 137 
PHILIPPINE ORCHIDS. 
HE fifth fascicle of Orchidacee contains an enumeration by Prof. Oakes 
Ames, A.M., F.L.S., of the genera and species of Philippine Orchids. 
Since the publication of this volume in 1915 numerous collections have been 
received, both from the Bureau of Science and from private collectors, that 
have contained new or noteworthy species. Of the material that accu- 
mulated, Mr. Oakes Ames has set aside from time to time specimens that seem 
to be obviously new to the Philippine flora. Such of these as proved to be 
undescribed or worthy of attention are included in a list which forms part 
of Orchidaceae, fascicle vi, issued from the Ames Botanical Laboratory, 
North Easton, Mass., U.S.A. 
“It has become apparent,” states Mr. Oakes Ames, “that numerous 
genera of Philippine Orchids need to be thoroughly reworked if we are to 
profit from the material that has been referred, often tentatively, to various 
species that were originally described from a limited number of specimens 
orfroma single plant. Critical work in the field may be necessary, together 
with a careful study of Malayan types, to solve some of the problems 
suggested by Malaxis. This genus constitutes a very puzzling group which, 
when studied from herbarium material, presents an exasperating number of 
perplexities.”’ 
Although the evidence obtained from an examination of recent collections 
indicates that substantial progress has been made towards a comprehensive 
Survey of the Philippine Orchid flora, Mr. Oakes Ames says: “It is highly 
Probable that unexplored and lightly touched regions, especially the 
mountainous regions of Mindanao and Mindoro, will bring to light many 
New species.” 
Of the four accompanying plates, that of Philippinza Wenzellii is of 
considerable interest, for it represents a new genus, and the plant is only 
known from Leyte, Mindanao and Luzon. * Present records prove that 
Philippinzea is the only endemic Orchid genus of the Philippine Islands. 
If it should remain so, it would be within reason to assume that the majority 
of the Orchid species of the Philippines have originated in the archipelago, 
and that their phylogeny may be traced to the species of Celebes, Java, 
Borneo, and Sumatra.” ; 
Regarding Vanda luzonica, the description was taken from a plant which 
flowered in the collection of Mr. Edwin S. Webster, Chestnut Hill, Mass., 
U.S.A.,in January, 1920. “‘ Sepals white, irregularly splotched and stained 
hear the apex with rose purple. Petals similar, but with the purplish 
markings extending in broken lines to the base. This specimen differs from 
the one figured in the Botanical Magazine in that the purple markings on 
the sepals and petals are diffused and not concentrated.” 
