THE ORCHID REVIEW. 331 
VARIATION IN CAPSULES OF PAPHIOPEDILUM 
CONCOLOR—A POSSIBLE CAUSE. 
SOME time ago we received a photograph of a plant of Paphiopedilum 
concolor in the collection of Reginald Young, Esq., Sefton Park, Liverpool, 
carrying seven seed pods, which showed a remarkable amount of variation 
between themselves. They were accompanied by the following interesting 
note :— 
I have at the present time a plant of Paphiopedilum concolor carrying 
seven seed-pods. The pollen parents are as follows :— 
I. P. X Godseffianum ..._ Date of hybridising, Feb. 21, 1898. 
2. P.barbatum nigrum _... ss aA Mar. 22°. -,, 
3. P. xX Harrisianum superbum _,, ” July. 18, 
4. P. X cenanthum ae y ” Aug. 3)» 
aes x 2 is ¥ $9 %» » 
6. P. Curtisii roseum unk 9 » ” ” 
7. P. xX Charlesworthii... ’ Sept. 5» 
My reason for doing this will, I think, stand the test of criticism. First 
of all, it is an interesting and instructive experiment to see how the plant 
comes out of the ordeal. Secondly, it is no certainty that a plant of P. 
concolor will survive very long even if not hybridised. And, lastly, from a 
financial point of view, it would not take many seedlings from any one of 
these crosses to recoup me for any loss, should the plant perish. To look at 
it now, there is not the smallest appearance of damage. 
Another interesting fact has by this means been brought to my notice. 
The seed-pods on this plant of P. concolor vary considerably according to 
_ the pollen parent used. Those formed under the action of P.x cenanthum 
are exactly alike, and are decidedly thin, as though the seeds would be 
small in quantity. That for which P. X Harrisianum superbum is respon- 
sible is longer and somewhat stouter. While those due to the pollen of P. 
X Godsefianum, P. barbatum, P. Curtisii roseum, and P. Charlesworthii 
are short and very fat, as though bursting with seed. It follows that a 
Sketch of the seed-pod of P. concolor might easily be misleading, and if P. 
Concolor, why not others ? 
REGINALD YOUNG. 
Liverpool. 
In due time the pods ripened, and the seeds were sown, the cd 
Capsules being carefully labelled, and forwarded for inspection. e 
Variation is considerable, both in length and thickness. The latter a 
may possibly be partly dependent upon the number or quality of the seeds, 
but for the former, at all events, some other explanation must be sought. The 
Capsule 3 (from P. x Harrisianum) measures 15 lines (omitting the beak and 
