23 o THE ORCHID REVIEW. 



peduncles are evidently intended to prevent undesirable insects from 

 crawling up to the flowers, and they offer a very effective obstacle, for ants 

 have been observed trying to climb up, but without success. It would be 

 interesting to know by what particular insect the flowers are fertilised in a 

 wild state. 



Consul F. C. Lehmann states {Woolw. Masdeval., p. 102) that M. 

 muscosa has a very wide and irregular geographical distribution throughout 

 Ecuador and Columbia, extending fully six hundred miles from north to 

 south, and ranging vertically from 1,800 to 2,300 metres (5,850 to 7,475 

 feet), growing most frequently upon trunks and thick branches of trees, in 

 damp mountain forests, where the absence of underwood allows a perpetual 

 circulation of air. Numerous localities are given, and he adds that in 

 many parts of Ecuador it also grows upon volcanic rocks and walls of lava, 

 and produces the largest and most brightly coloured flowers, the flowering 

 season being in February and March, while in Columbia it flowers from 

 September to December. He adds that in spite of its extensive 

 geographical distribution it shows little variation, either in size or colour. 

 No mention is made of the other three species, so that it is uncertain if 

 they are known to Consul Lehmann. 



It is a very remarkable little group, and readily distinguished from its 

 allies by the peculiar structure and economy of the flowers. 



R. A. Rolfe. 



ODONTOGLOSSUM CULTURE IN SCOTLAND. 



Odontoglossum crispum is splendidly grown in the collection of C.L. 

 Wood, Esq., Freeland, Forgandenny, N.B. In sending some sample flowers 

 to the Gardeners? Chronicle, "each measuring about four inches across," 

 the gardener, Mr. William Sharp, remarks:— The stronger the plants are 

 grown, the larger are the flowers ; but I am inclined to think that after a 

 certain point is reached, the increase of size is at the expense of the shape 

 of the flower. I have found that when a plant was small, and bore but a 

 few flowers on a spike, the shape has been perfect, but that when the same 

 plant has been grown strongly for a few years, although the flowers have 

 been much larger, the extra length of the petal has not been accompanied 

 by proportionate breadth. The Odontoglossums grow very satisfactorily- 

 Our largest crispum has ten spikes ; others have from eight downwards. 

 The plant from which the largest bloom sent was cut had fifteen blooms on 

 a spike. The greatest number of spikes I have had on one specimen is 

 thirteen. The largest number of blooms I ever had on a crispum was sixty- 

 four ; on a Pescatorei one hundred and thirty-six.— Gard. Chron., 1902, 



