APRIL, 1923-] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 105 
NOTES ON THE SEGMENTS OF ORCHID FLOWERS. 
(Continued from page 50.) 
UR last notes on the segments of Orchid flowers dealt with the outer 
whorl of the three sepals. Attention may now be directed to the 
inner whorl, which also consists of three segments, two being similar to one 
another and distinguished as petals, while the third is called the labellum» 
and generally takes the form of a lip or pouch. A reference to page 47 will 
make clear the respective positions of the sepals (S), the petals (P) and the 
labellum (L), as also will the annexed figure of Odontoglossum citrosmum. 
It is of interest to note how in the 
various genera different segments 
receive the special attention of culti- 
vators and breeders. In Cypripediums 
it is the upper segment of the outer 
whorl, while in Odontoglossums it is 
the petals, or lateral segments of the 
inner whorl. In Cattleyas all three seg- 
ments, the two petals and the labellum, 
should be well developed in order to 
obtain specialappreciation. Allthrough 
the period when blotched crispums 
were in fashion, their value was mainly 
determined by the size of the petals : 
and the amount of colour blotching Mecicdioeauwm GrrmGencia. 
thereon. If we look at the finest 
Odontoglossums of to-day it will be seen that the petals have beer 
developed so that they almost meet one another in front of the upper sepal. 
In Cattleyas the same development is manifest. Amateurs prize most 
the varieties having broad petals of thick texture. Even the beautiful C. 
Mossiz is not perfect in this respect, for although the petals are broader 
than those of many other species of the genus, they have a drooping 
tendency. To remedy this defect Lelia pumila has been utilised by the. 
hybridist, and although its flowers are comparatively small, the petals are 
flatly displayed and possess a thick texture that is frequently transmitted to 
the offspring. Among the fine hybrids that have been produced by 
combining the large sized petals of C. Mossiz with the thick textured 
ones of L. pumila are Lzliocattleya Momus, figured in the Orchid Review, 
vol. xxx., p. 323, and the Orchid World, vol. vi., p. 221. As a contrast 
we have only to look at hybrids of Lzlia purpurata to witness how the. 
narrow and frequently reflexed petals of this species are generally 
perpetuated. 
ic . 
