Jury, 1923.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 195 
AN ABNORMAL DENDROBIUM SUPERBUM. 
2 By THos. Cary WELCH, Manila, Philippine Islands. 
@ HE accompanying photograph of Dendrobium superbum shows a 
peculiar freak. Dr. E. D. Merrill, Director of Science, tells me that 
it is the only one he has ever seen. Note that the flower is from the axil 
of the growing leaf; although the photograph does not show it, there is 
practically no pedicel. Furthermore, when the bloom first expanded the 
lip was vertically above the dorsal sepal. The photograph was taken when 
PHOTOGRAPH BY 
DENDROBIUM SUPERBUM, SHOWING ABNORMAL FLOWERING. 
THE PHILIPPINE BUREAU OF SCIENCE, MANILA, 
the flower was three days old and had turned a right angle, apparently in 
an effort to assume the normal position. 
Dendrobium superbum is very common here at this season of the year 
(March). The flowers are borne on pedicels from the bare leaf stems of the 
preceding year ; this particular flower is, therefore, one year too early. I 
am inclined to think that this premature flower has been forced by my 
practice of spraying the plants once every two or three days, just after they 
have had their regular watering, with a much diluted mixture of liquid 
Manure and water, upon which they thrive wonderfully. Of course, all our 
‘Orchids are here grown out of doors and on slabs of wood. 
