THE ORCHID REVIEW. 67 
This question of the naming of hybrids is interminable, and it seems 
to me that the parentage in certain groups is getting so much mixed 
that a good many of those which appear are not worth naming at all. 
If only those were named which were intrinsically good, or which 
showed some improvement on existing kinds, how much fewer would the 
new names be than under the existing system. Of course, they 
seldom show their true character at the first time of flowering, and, until 
they do so, some provisional system of identification seems necessary. I 
recently came across the record and figure of a very handsome novelty as 
“Carnation no. 666,” and it seems to me that a system of numbers would 
serve very well as a provisional arrangement, to be prefixed with the name 
of the raiser in the event of their being exhibited or recorded. | Any which 
proved of sufficient merit might be named afterwards. 
For primary hybrids, 7.c., those between distinct species, we have 
already a good working rule, but for secondary hybrids—often of much mixed 
parentage—which are named as florists’ flowers, something of the kind 
seems both desirable and necessary. 
ARGUS, 
ONCIDIUM PANCHRYSUM. 
A PLANT of this very pretty little Oncidium has appeared in the collection 
of William Thompson, Esq., Walton Grange, Stone, among some imported 
plants of Odontoglossum Pescatorei and O. triumphans. It closely 
resembles O, auriferum, Rchb. f., but is readily distinguished by the total 
absence of column wings which are so marked a feature in that species. 
It was originally described by Lindley, in 1849 (Journ. Hort. Soc., 
iv., p. 267, with fig.), being primarily based on specimens collected in the 
province of Socorro, New Grenada, by Linden; the author, however, adding 
that he had “received flowers from various anonymous correspondents.” 
Reichenbach also described it as O. anomalum (Linnaa, xxii, p. 845) from 
specimens collected by Funck and Schlim at 8,000 feet elevation in the 
province of Pomplona. He also claims priority for this name, but there is, 
evidence that it was not published till after Lindley’s, and therefore we 
adopt the former. It is a dwarf and most floriferous little species, the 
panicle reaching about a foot high, or rather less when not fully developed, 
and bearing numerous bright yellow flowers. Mr. Stevens remarks that it 
grows well with the Odontoglossums. The only other plant which we know 
of in cultivation is in the collection of Sir Trevor Lawrence, at Burford. 
