THE ORCHID Revie 
Vo. VIII.] APRIL, t1goo. [No. 88. 
DIES ORCHIDIANZ. 
I was much struck with the beautiful group of yellow forms of Paphiopedi- 
lum insigne given at page 81, and I could not help thinking how useful it 
would be if other varieties of our most popular species could be illustrated 
’ in the same way. Such groups would form excellent standards for com- 
parison, and, perhaps, help to check some of the rapidly growing confusion 
in the nomenclature of varieties—if only those who are so ready to give new 
hames would first look up what the old varieties are like. Perhaps a diffi- 
culty would sometimes be found in getting the allied varieties in flower at 
the same time, or at all events in getting them together for the purpose of 
a photograph, but in many cases it would be quite practicable if the matter 
were taken in hand seriously. The example in question, at all events, is 
an excellent commencement, and I hope that everyone who has another 
yellow insigne to name will first consult this group. 
The question of the nomenclature of varieties opened up a very interest- 
ing little discussion the other day with a well-known Orchidist, who, I find, 
takes a very rational view of the matter. He thinks that varietal names are a 
teat convenience, and are, indeed, necessary for the proper identification of 
different forms of many of our most popular Orchids, but he very truly 
urges that in many cases we have far too many names. He would have 
every new variety registered in some way, so that it would be possible to 
identify it properly in future, and he would not allow any new name 
unless the plant to which it was applied showed some appreciable difference 
from those previously named. I quite agree with this proposal: it would 
represent quite an ideal condition of things, and I have agreed to consider 
Whether any practical steps can be taken to bring it about. 
— 
The beautiful Odontoglossum crispum was one of the subjects—if it did 
not actually commence the discussion—and two of the questions which we 
