ae 
Nov.-Dec., 1918. ] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 231 
natural hybrid Orchid that we know of. The plant was subsequently noted 
by De Candolle, and was successively called Gymnadenia suaveolens, Rchb., 
Nigritella suaveolens, Koch, and N. fragrans, Lindl., but it is significant 
that these authors omitted all references to its suggested hybrid origin. It 
may be added that the modern names of the suggested parents are Nigritella 
angustifolia and Gymnadenia odoratissima, but it is now recognised that G. 
Conopsea was the second parent. The hybrid is now known as 
Gymnigritella suaveolens, Camus, and Kerner remarks that is so common 
in the Central Alps, tor instance in the Pusterthal of Tyrol, that hundreds 
ofspecimens are sometimes encountered in a single meadow. 
Lindley’s remarks have proved prophetic as to most of the genera 
mentioned, but it is curious that he should have overlooked or ignored the 
suggested hybrid origin of Orchis suaveolens. This was the plant on which 
he had previously based his Nigritella fragrans (Gen. & Sp. Orch., p. 281), 
and his remarks lead one to infer that he had seen the book, and _ therefore 
the suggested origin of the plant. Ifhe obtained the information second 
hand it might explain the omission, for earlier authors had made the 
same Omission, which is perhaps explained by the scepticism then current 
a to the existence of hybrids. This article probably formed the turning 
point, and the flood of light soon afterwards thrown upon the subject by 
Dominy’s classical experiments made further progress possible. To-day 
the question is the precise signifiance of hybridism as a factor in the 
origin of species. | 
ODONTOGLOssUM EXIMIUM XANTHOTES: A CURIOUS GROWTH.—A small 
Propagated plant of Odontoglossym eximium xanthotes sent by Messrs. 
Charlesworth & Co., Haywards Heath, shows a very curious growth, the 
further development of which Mr. Charlesworth hopes we shall be able to 
Watch. Its essential character is that all four of the developing leaves and 
sheaths have a membranaceous, semitransparent, very undulate margin, as 
Much as a fifth of an inch broad in places, which is entirely without 
chlorophyll, It extends all round the margin of the two sheaths and the 
miner leaf, but is limited to the base of the remaining one. Its precise 
_ “nificance is a little difficult to judge; it is not variegation, because only 
the epidermis js developed, though it may be due to malnutrition, the young 
Stowth developing before the new roots were able to supply it with the 
Necessary food. The idea it is borne out by the absence of any such develop- 
sent from the older growth, and that it is a propagated piece, not an un- 
flowered seedling. The abnormality is very conspicuous in this stage, and 
neither Mr, Charlesworth nor ourselves remember to have noticed a similar 
development before. The future behaviour of the plant will be watched 
with interest RAR, 
