THE ORCHID REVIEW. 301 
guide,’ I think a glance at our scientific nomenclature will show how little 
individual taste is to be trusted. Take for instance Abildgardia, 
Forbesoerinus, Agassizichthys, as examples. If therefore some rule could 
be generally adopted it would be most desirable, for we must remember 
that names once correctly given must be tolerated.” P.G.E.—l.c., p. 1129. 
EPIDENDRUM RADICANS HYBRIDS. 
In compiling the list of hybrids from Epidendrum radicans, given at page 
274, one was accidentally overlooked—namely, Epidendrum X_ radico- 
vitellinum (Gard. Chron., July 10, 1897, p. 16), raised by Mr. Seden from 
E. vitellinum and E. radicans, the latter again being the pollen parent. We 
are now able to give some further evidence bearing on the question, showing 
that this species may, under certain circumstances, also be used as the seed 
parent. Messrs. F. Sander & Co. have at St. Albans a little batch of two 
most interesting hybrids, one derived from Diacrium bicornutum @ and E. 
radicans ¢, the other from E. radicans ? and E. Wallisii ¢, and in the 
latter case the species in question was actually the seed parent. This we 
are assured is beyond any doubt, as the history of the plant is known and 
the record book very carefully kept. We have had the pleasure of seeing 
the seedlings in question—nice little plants, with several leaves—and both 
-lots show the rooting habit of E. radicans, while, so far as comparison is 
possible in this stage, there is every reason to believe that the records are 
correct. Their flowering will be awaited with interest. 
With respect to the difficulty of fertilising Epidendrum radicans with 
any of the large-flowered Cattleyas and Lzlias, we would suggest that there 
may be a mechanical difficulty in the way, which is not present when the- 
reverse cross is tried. It may well be that the pollen tubes of these larger- 
flowered species are too large to obtain an entrance through the micropyle 
of the ovule, and it will be noted that in the one case where E. radicans was 
the seed parent the pollen parent was an Epidendrum, for which reason we 
suspect that E. x O’Brienianum and E. x dellense might be obtained from 
the reverse cross. It is well known that certain species which cross together 
readily one way cannot be reversed. To take an example outside this 
particular family, Mirabilis jalapa can readily be crossed with the pollen of 
M. longiflora, but Kélreuter tried more than two hundred times, during 
eight successive years, to effect the reverse cross, but utterly failed. Other 
instances among Orchids could, perhaps, be found and we hope that some of 
our hybridists will turn more of their attention to this interesting question, 
to 
