“@ 
Othe Orchir Review 
Ss 
| ) . > MeL REX: AprIL, 1914. No. 256. 
sa 7 a 
OUR NOTE BOOK. 
Ea eee 
QUESTION has been raised in the Gardeners’ Chronicle as to the way 
hybrids that have been re-crossed with one of their parents are to be 
named. Speaking of some hybrid Odontoglossums exhibited by Messrs. 
Sander & Sons at the R.H.S. meeting held on Februiry 28th last, we read :— 
*‘ A finely-formed flower (Rolfez. x Pescatorei) isa great improvement on 
O. Rolfeze (Pescatorei X Harryanum), but it ought to be known by that 
name, as no new element is introduced except in degree” (G.C., 1914, i. 
p- 157). It is perhaps a debateable point, but we hardly think that the full 
effect of such a suggestion can have been thought out. There are scores of 
such hybrids, andyas far as our observation goes they are generally distinct. 
To take a parallel.case. O. crispum has been crossed with O. Harryanum, 
yielding O. spectabile, which re-crossed with O. crispum gives O. amabile ;. 
and this again with O. crispum produces O. Jasper, yet all of them are 
distinct and their forms recognisable. 
Long ago Cypripedium (Selenipedium) Schlimii was crossed with 
C. longifolium, yielding C. Sedenii, and this was re-combined with 
both parents, yielding two perfectly distinct hybrids, which have long been 
known in gardens under the names of C. calurum and C. cardinale. The 
latter was again crossed with C. Schlimii, yielding a hybrid which was 
called C. Cardinal Schlim, not because there was any Cardinal of that name 
but just to indicate its parentage. We have seen it, but do not remember 
how far it could be called distinct. When hybrids are fertile it seems to us 
that it would be possible to connect quite distinct species by a series of 
intermediate links; and this is being done, to cite an example, in the case 
of Odontoglossum crispum, but we should not propose to bring them all 
under one name because no new element is introduced, though it may 
become unavoidable when they can no longer be distinguished. In practise: 
the case is generally not so simple, for much of the linking up that is being 
done is with hybrids that introduce a third or a fourth species, giving hybrids. 
we 97 
