254 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [Avant aa 
Orchis maculata, in the new sense, is defined as a plant of heathery 
moorlands, heathy ground, peat bogs, and in damp places on siliceous soils, 
locally abundant and ascending to 3,000 feet, and occurring from Cornwall 
northwards to the Shetlands and in Ireland, but absent from large areas in 
the basic soils of the Midlands and Eastern Counties. Three hybrids of it 
are enumerated. QO. Fuchsii X maculata we have already mentioned, and 
the others are O. maculata x pratermissa (O. Hallii), and O. maculata X 
latifolia. 
He then describes Orchis Okellyi, Druce, as a third species of the 
maculata group, found locally on the limestone hills of Co. Clare, Ireland, 
and on the limestones area of Inchnadamph, Sunderland, Scotland. This 
is said to have white flowers and unspotted leaves. 
In conclusion Mr. Druce makes the following significant remark: 
*“ Perhaps in these three plants we have soil species, (1) O. maculata, 
almost restricted to the acid, silicious areas; (2) O. Fuchsii, especially 
represented on the basic clays and impervious beds of chalk; (3) O. 
Okellyi, a plant strongly calcipete, and restricted to well-drained soils. 
Whether the intermediate forms which occur are the result of hybridisation, 
as treated here, or are merely variations await, as has been said, scientific 
experimental cullure.’’ 
We regard these as only stational forms of one very common and widely 
diffused species, which grows under the most diverse conditions, and 
presents a correspondingly wide range of variation. And we doubt their 
constancy, for some, at least, of the differences disappear when the plants 
are grown side by side. And we do not regard the numerous intermediates 
as hybrids. They are polymorphisms, indicating a state of fluctuating 
variability, and must not be confounded with the bona fide hybrids, which 
occur where O. maculata grows intermixed with allied species. Some of 
these would be promising subjects for experiment, and we do not think it 
would take “‘ seven years from the germination of the seed to the flowering 
stage,”’ for some terrestrial Orchids flower in their second or third season. 
R.A.R. 
PHALZNOPSIS AMABILIS RIMESTADIANA.—A magnificent panicle of this 
fine Orchid has been sent from the collection of O. O. Wrigley, Esq-, 
Bridge Hall, Bury, by Mr. Rogers, who remarks that it received a Cultural 
Certificate from the Manchester Orchid Society on July 22nd. The 
inflorescence is very strong, and bears six branches and an aggregate of 39 
splendidly-developed flowers. It must have been of considerable length, 
for the upper branched part, which alone is forwarded, is about two feet 
long. It is a fine example of good culture. Mr. Rogers adds: “ Our 
Phalznopsis has done very well this year, and we exhibited a plant at 
