i i i Ni i eee einen 
ee ee ea EE EE eee 
«saeco seiaieiattinaac iat 
MaRCH, 1923.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 69: 
SELENIPEDIUM CHICA: THE TALLEST ORCHID KNOWN. 
TO SCIENCE. 
UCH doubt has surrounded Selenipedium chica ever since it was 
described and figured by Reichenbach in 1854. Now, thanks to the 
painstaking investigations of Prof. Oakes Ames, our knowledge of this 
extraordinary Orchid is considerably extended, for, in Schedule Orchidiana, 
No. 2 (1923), he gives a full description of it, accompanied by an excellent 
plate. 
Specimens of this Selenipedium were first obtained by Duchassaing,. 
who secured them from an Indian chief in the mountains of Panama, where: 
this species was said to be known as “ Vanilla en Arbol,” because a flavouring 
material resembling Vanilla was obtained from its fruits. Prof. Oakes Ames 
says he is “‘indebted to Mr. C. W. Powell for data which remove all doubt 
as to the authenticity of the records of the height to which Selenipedium 
chica grows. It will be remembered that Duchassaing’s specimens were 
said to be from twelve to fifteen feet high. Powell describes his specimens 
as being ten to twelve feet high, with branches along the upper part of the 
stems. In other words, Selenipedium chica is the tallest Orchid known to 
science.” 
The accompanying plate includes a diagrammatic suggestion of the 
height of the plant: it shows an erect reed-like stem, about twelve feet in 
height, bearing leaves from almost its base to the apex, at which point the 
infloresence of twenty or more flowers and buds is borne. The flowering 
period is a long one, as both fruits and buds are present simultaneously. 
Further, only one or two flowers expand at atime. M. Powell found the 
plants in November, 1922, in the Canal Zone, Panama, growing in semi- 
shade in damp, cool places at an elevation of 200-300 feet. The flowers 
opened in succession, and, if not pollinated the first day, fell off at nightfall. 
Five years previously specimens had been obtained by Mr. Ellsworth P. 
Killip, on Ancon Hill, Panama. 
When Prof. Ames examined the specimens of Selenipedium in the 
Reichenbachian Herbarium at Vienna, he was unable to find the type of 
Selenipedium chica. The only record being a duplicate of the plate pub- 
lished in Xenia Orchidacea, and from this, which is, he fears, a bit enhanced 
by the imagination of its maker, the conclusion was arrived at that the 
flowers observed were merely expanding buds, those represented on nearly 
mature capsules having been restored fram the remains of withered flowers. 
CHELSEA FLOowER SHOW.—This important event will be held on May 
29th, 30th and 3rst, 1923. Fellows will be admitted at 12 o’clock on the 
first day. 
