THE ORCHID REVIEW. 111 
attempted, so that the results could be compared side by side. We would 
suggest as a possible explanation of this curious character that both 
Cattleya and Sophronitis are derived from an Epidendrum-like ancestor, 
and that the most recent or least fixed characters of the parents are the 
ones most easily lost when hybrid unions are effected. This is apparently 
the first genuine Epicattleya, for E. X guatemalensis is now referred to 
Cattleya. 
ODONTOGLOSSUMS FROM WALTON GRANGE. 
A SERIES of very beautiful Odontoglossum flowers has been sent from the 
well-known collection of W. Thompson, Esq., Walton Grange, Stone (gr. 
Mr. Stevens). Among them is the beautiful O. x Ruckerianum ocellatum, 
which received an Award of Merit on March 23rd last. The sepals and 
petals are beautiful rose-pink, with numerous red-brown spots and small 
blotches, and the lip yellow with a large irregular red-brown blotch in front 
of the crest. The plant when exhibited bore a raceme of nineteen flowers, 
and was a beautiful sight, as both form and colour are excellent. There 
are also three forms of O. xX excellens, one of them being specially 
interesting because it was raised in the collection, between O. Pescatorei and 
O. triumphans, and would have proved the parentage of this natural hybrid 
had not this been previously accomplished by Messrs. Veitch, and afterwards 
by Messrs. Heath. This seedling is now flowering for the first time, and is 
a little paler and nearer to O. Pescatorei in general character than many 
forms of this hybrid. A second light form, called O. X excellens var. 
spectabile has very broad light yellow sepals and petals, the latter with 
numerous very small dots near the base, and the former with several large 
brown blotches. The third is about typical, with very deep yellow ground 
colour. A good form of O. triumphans, one of the parents, is also enclosed. 
O. X mulus lyroglossum is a striking form with light ground and very large 
blotches, those on the petals taking a crescent shape. O. X mulus 
cuspidatum is a well-known, heavily-marked form. O. X acuminatissimum 
isa very rare and interesting hybrid, derived from O. luteopurpureum and 
0. Lindleyanum, in which the influence of the latter is apparent, both in 
the column, with its wings, and the lip. O. luteopurpureum pallens is 
Peculiar in its very light yellow ground, with light red-brown markings. 
Lastly may be mentioned two very good nearly white forms of O. crispum, 
With a few small spots only on the lip. The series is very interesting and 
beautiful. 
