Marcu, 1912.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 73 
to need description, but in case any reader’s collection should lack a plant, a 
short description may be opportune. It is a dwarf grower, seldom exceeding 
four inches in height, and produces solitary blooms, about one and a half 
inches in diameter and of a beautiful vermilion hue. The lip is also stained 
with yellow. A point in favour of this brilliant Orchid is that it is usually 
in bloom from October till March or April. 
ANGR&ECUM SESQUIPEDALE.—No collection should lack a representative 
of this singular and beautiful Orchid. It should be given a position at the 
warmest end of the house, where, even when not in bloom, its handsome’ 
leaves add an air of distinctiveness to the collection. On account of the shape 
of the blossoms, this plant is often known as the ‘‘Comet Orchid.” | They 
are large, ivory white, and thick intexture. The quaintness of the flower lies 
in the long spur, which sometimes reaches a foot in length. December 
and January is the usual season of blossoming, and the plant is not difficult. 
to grow in a suitable house. 
SPORTING IN ODONTOGLOSSUM CRISPUM. 
A REMARKABLE freak or sport of Odontoglossum crispum has appeared in 
the collection of W. Waters Butler, Esq., Southfield, Edgbaston. Mr. 
Butler writes that a plant of O. crispum var. Gracie has produced a good 
spike, bearing two kinds of flowers in about equal proportions, and a flower 
of each kind is sent, showing a remarkable diversity of character. O. 
crispum Gracie has a clear white ground colour, with clusters of four to: 
six round cinnabar-brown spots about the centre of the segments. The 
latter are rather broad and undulate, the whole flower being unmistakably 
of the Velez type. In the sport the markings on the sepals are broken up 
into very numerous spots and dots, which extend almost from the base to 
the apex, those of the other segments remaining normal, giving the flower 
a very distinct and remarkable appearance. The question naturally arises 
as to the cause of this sporting, and here speculation only is possible, but 
we should suggest it to be a case of partial reversion. It is generally agreed 
that the so-called ‘‘ spotted crispums” are of hybrid origin, and the shape 
and general details of the present variety suggest an affinity with, and 
possibly a descent from O. Fascinator. Indeed forms occur in the Velez 
district which one hardly knows whether to refer to the polymorphic O. 
Adriane, to O. Fascinator, or to O. crispum itself, and these perplexing 
intermediate forms, in which the influence of O. Hunnewellianum is more or 
less apparent, suggest crossing and recrossing through countless generations. 
The tendency to sport among hybrids is well-known, and it will be 
interesting to watch the subsequent behaviour of this particular plant. We 
would suggest that a flower should be self-fertilised, as further evidence of 
reversion might appear among the seedlings.—R.A.R. 
