THE ORCHID REVIEW. 



CATTLEYA x DAYANA. 



It is well known that several species of Cattleya grow more or less 

 intermixed in the province of Rio de Janeiro, and that some of them hybri- 

 dise together ; and the remark must now be held to apply to C. Forbesii and 

 C. guttata. There is a drawing in the Day collection (li., t. 35), dated August 

 7th, 1886, of which Mr. Day remarks : — " From a plant of my own, bought 

 of Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, in flower. I considered it a spotted variety 

 of C. Forbesii, but have sent a sketch of it to Prof. H. G. Reichenbach. 

 Bulbs 8 to 10 inches long, by -| broad at upper end, which is the broadest, 

 compressed, and sulcated in age, covered with whitey brown sheathing scales 

 when young. Leaves two, 6 x 2$ inches^ , coriaceous." In the index 

 to the volume occurs the note " Forbesii guttata ? " evidently indicating a 

 suspicion that it was a hybrid between these two species. And we could 

 scarcely have clearer evidence of its descent. The lip is almost identical 

 with C. Forbesii in shape, colour, and the very characteristic veining, except 

 that there is a slight interval between the front and side lobes. The sepals 

 and petals, however, are almost those of the old C. guttata, but dull yellow 

 in colour, and copiously spotted with brown. The leaves also closely 

 resemble those of the latter species. In short, it combines the characters of 

 these two very distinct species in the mcst unmistakable manner ; and both 

 are common in the Rio district. It is fortunate that evidence is slowly 

 accumulating which will enable a very interesting question to be cleared up.- 

 R. A. Rolfe. 



MILTONIA x COGNIAUXI.E VAR. BICOLOR. 



A very fine example of this handsome natural hybrid is flowering in the 

 Kew collection. It was sent from Brazil, by M. Binot, some time ago,, 

 and proves identical with one sent to Kew for determination by Mr.. 

 Thomas Spencer, Goodrich Court, Ross, in July, 1891, but was not 

 described until last year (Rolfe in Orch. Rev., ix, p. 294). It is evidently 

 a natural hybrid between the typical M. spectabilis and M. Regnellii. 

 The plant most resembles the former in general habit, but the spikes are 

 elongated up to 1 to 1^ feet long, and bear a number of lanceolate bracts 

 on the peduncle, as in M. spectabilis, with the flowering bracts also i£ to 

 i| inches long. The individual flowers, however, more nearly approach 

 those of M. Regnellii, and measure nearly three inches across. The sepals 

 and petals are straw yellow, slightly tinged with purple at the base ; and 

 the lip light purple at the base, shading off to lilac, and finally yellowish 

 in front. There are five spikes, the best of which bears five flowers. It 

 is a very handsome form, and the combination of characters is such as to 

 leave no dcub+ etout its origin. R. A. Rolfe. 



