May, 1923.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 131 
CIRRHOPETALUM MEDUS/AE ALBUM. 
MOST interesting colour, and possibly a geographical form of the 
quaint and interesting Cirrhopetalum Medusz was recently in flower 
at Mundham Vicarage, the residence of the Rev. J. C. B. Fletcher. 
C. Medusz is fairly well represented in cultivation, but never fails to 
attract notice by the size of its inflorescence and the remarkable attenuation 
of the lower sepals. Numerous flowers are set closely together in dense 
heads on short erect spikes. Individually, the flowers are a pale straw or 
cream-yellow colour, dotted with pink, the two lower sepals being 
lengthened into thread-like points, four to five inches long, which fall in 
different directions, giving a fancied, but not inapt, resemblance to Medusa’s 
head. The upper sepal resembles the lower in shape but is much shorter 
and slightly broader. At the back of each flower is a sepal-like bract. 
- The type is obtained from Singapore, but the present variety is supposed to 
bea native of Sumatra. Colour is the most easily distinguishable difference, 
as the long sepals and the very small petals are a soft pure white, heightened 
by the deep yellow colour of the minute lip. The bract is grey-white. 
Unfortunately typical flowers were not available for comparison, but in this 
variety the sepals appear to be much straighter. Pseudobulbs and leaves 
are however similar. 
The collection at Mundham is particularly rich in Bulbophyllums, and 
many fine specimens are included. Both B. Fletcheri and B. macrobulbum 
(B. Balfourianum) are represented by very large plants. A plant of the 
latter is particularly noticeable as the latest leaf is two feet long, and broad 
in proportion. The two species are evidently closely allied, both in flower 
and habit, but macrobulbum appears to be the more robust. A very large 
specimen of Bulbophyllum saltatorium carried numerous: spikes of its 
daintily haired flowers, not unlike B. barbigerum individually, but smaller, 
carried on erect spikes and with a pinkish-white hue prevailing the flowers. 
Cirrhopetalum Mastersianum was represented by two very fine specimens. 
The broad orange-yellow sepals are curved downward, and as the flowers 
are set closely together the whole inflorescence forms a canopy of charm. 
Not in flower at the moment, but drawing attention by their size and 
vigour are huge specimens of Arachnanthe Lowii, the size of which may be 
imagined from the fact that it has carried twenty-three of its pendent 
flexuouse spikes in one season, and Arachnanthe Rohaniana, nearly as tall 
as Lowii but falling short in its number of growths. It has been suggested 
that A. Rohaniana is but a variety of Lowii; evidently they are very closely 
allied, but A. Rohaniana, even when not in flower, may be detected by its 
shorter leaves. 
Vanda Dearei completes a trio of specimen plants, and it is very 
