HISTORY OF ORCHID HYBRIDISATION. | XXV. 
Figaro. Other combinations between the same four species are possible, it 
not actually in existence. But the complexity does not end here, for a 
similar result may be reached in three different ways. P. x Boyleanum was 
raised from P. X Crossianum and P. X Harrisianum, but the union of P. 
xX nitens with P. x calophyllum, also that of P. x Ashburtone with P. x 
Measuresianum would agree on analysis, each being composed of equal 
parts of P. barbatum, insigne, venustum and villosum. The second cross is 
called P. X Patria, but the arrangement is not satisfactory. The third 
cross has not been raised. 
HYBRIDS FROM FIVE SPECIES are at present rare. The first was 
Paphiopedilim x Kubele, raised from P. x cenanthum @ and P. x 
Youngianum ¢, which flowered in Igor. Two years later, P. X Kohinoor 
appeared, raised from P. X cenanthum ¢@ and P. X Haywoodianum ¢@, 
and in 1906 P. x Seraphis, from P. x Orpheus @ and P. X cenanthum ¢. 
All were raised by the late Mr. Reginald Young, of Liverpool, and it will 
be noticed that in each case P. x cenanthum was one ofthe parents, so that 
all have three species in common. In fact P. x Kubele and P. xX Kohinoor 
possess four species in common, for both P. x Youngianum and P. x 
Haywoodianum are half derived from P. superbiens, and thus the difference 
between them is 1n respect of cnly one out of the five original species. 
Hybrids of still greater complexity are clearly possible, but we do not 
remember one having flowered yet. 
VARIABILITY OF Hyprips.—An excellent example of the wide range of 
variation seenin secondary hybrids is afforded by the case of Paphiopedilum 
x Hera, derived from P.x Leeanum ? and P. Boxalliig, of which a series 
of thirty flowers, arranged in three groups, have been figured (Journ. Roy. 
Hort. Soc. xxvii. pp. 614-624, fig. 167-169: Orch. Rev. 1903, pp. 71-73, fig. 
16-18). They were selected from a series of forty-nine flowers, of which no 
two were exactly alike. The thirty figured show great variation both in 
shape and colour, some being profusely spotted and blotched with purple- 
brown, and others much suffused with the same colour, while in a few 
the purple markings are very much reduced. These differences may be 
attributed to the varying influence in the offspring of the original species, 
P. Boxallii, P. insigne and P. Spicerianum, and it emphasises the import- 
ance of keeping accurate records, for their common origin would never have 
been guessed. 
Still more remarkable is the case of P. aureum, a hybrid from P. 
Spicerianum ¢ and P. nitens (Sallier1 Hyeanum) 3, which has been 
described under nearly forty different names. We cannot give the whole 
range of variation, but may mention the differences seen in the six varieties 
figured by M. Goossens (Dict. Ic. Orch., Paph. hyb.). P. X aureum (t. 24) 
has the petals, lip and the lower half of the dorsal sepal greenish yellow, 
