356 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [DEcEMBRR, 1915, 
ees _ a) 
W. ASHTON.—We regre: to hear of the death of an old member ot 
@ the Orchid trade, Mr. F. W. Ashton, of 116, Hewitt Road, 
Harringay. Mr. Ashton was for some time in the Orchid houses at Kew, 
leaving in May, 1885, and after spending atime with Messrs. Hugh Low 
& Co., becoming Manager to Messrs. W. L. Lewis & Co., Southgate, being 
admitted as partner in November, 1904, when the firm became Messrs. 
Stanley & Ashton. In March, 1905, Mr. Ashton severed his connection, 
and was appointed representative to Messrs. Hugh Low & Co., a post 
which he retained for five years, after which he commenced business for 
himself as a horticultural commission agent. Mr. Ashton has been in 
failing health for some time, and the end came a few weeks ago. 
eal CIRRHOPETALUM GRACILLIMUM. | 
GOOD plant of this dainty little Cirrhopetalum was exhibited by 
A Messrs. Armstrong & Brown, Tunbridge Wells, at the R.H.S. 
meeting held on November gth last, and it has also flowered freely at Kew, 
recalling the fact that it received an Award of Merit in July, 1907, when 
exhibited by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart. The species was described about 
twenty years ago (Rolfe in Kew Bull., 1895, p. 34), though it has been 
known since April, 1888, when it flowered in the collection of T. R. Jarvis, 
Esq., Laurel Grove, Chelmsford. The habitat was then doubtful, and 
Burma was suggested, though it was probably the Malay Peninsula, where 
it is now known to occur in several localities. It was afterwards described 
as C. psittacoides (Ridl. in Journ. Linn. Soc., xxxii. p. 280), ultimately 
becoming Bulbophyllum psittacoides (Ridl. Mater. Fl. Mal. Penins., 1. Pe 
80). It now proves to have a wider diffusion, having also been collected in 
Borneo, by Dr. G. B. Haviland, and in the Solomon Islands, by Mr. C. M- 
Woodford, while, aceording to Mr. J.J. Smith; it also occurs in Amboind 
(Orch. Ambon, p. 84). Itisa very graceful little plant, producing slender 
scapes about nine inches high, with an umbel of numerous reddish crimson 
flowers. The lateral sepals are almost thread-like, and about 14 inches 
long, while the petals and dorsal sepal bear numerous long ciliate hairs. 
Mr. Ridley published a very interesting note respecting the fertilisation 
of the flowers. He remarked: ‘‘ This is a very distinct little species, and, 
though the flowers are small, is really pretty. The lateral sepals are so 
bent and connate at the base as to form a tube with a circular mouth, over 
which hangs the violet lip. Their apices are separate and hang down, and 
OBITUARY. 
