SEPTEMBER, 1910. | THE ORCHID REVIEW. 263 
insects, and he adds: ‘‘ Judging from the structure of the flowers of O. 
apifera, it seems almost certain that at some former period they were 
adapted for cross-fertilisation, but that failing to produce a sufficiency of 
seed they became modified so as to fertilise themselves.” For this and for 
other reasons it is practically certain that O. apifera and O. arachnites had 
a common ancestor, which effectually disposes of the argument that the 
flower of the Bee Orchis only acts as a warning to grazing animals, who do 
not wish to be stung, to let it alone. 
The challenge to any Darwinian to quote any single instance of a flower 
whose colours, markings, or shape are inconsistent with the view that they 
are of advantage in deterring grazing and browsing animals is really too. 
absurd, and the whole of the great Orchid family offers an eloquent if silent 
protest. What have the shape and movements of the pollinia to do with 
grazing and browsing animals? And if Orchids produce a spur to repel 
grazing animals, why do so many of them grow high up in the trees, far 
out of reach? And why do they so often bait the interior of the spur with 
a little delicious nectar? When an ordinary plant really sets about repelling 
grazing and browsing animals it generally adopts a more business-like 
process, and, judging by their habits, Orchids are not specially wanting in 
intelligence. Ri Aa 
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MENDELISM AND HORTICULTURE. 
A PAPER entitled ‘‘Mendel’s Law of Heredity and its application to 
Horticulture,” by C. C. Hurst, F.L.S., appears in the last issue of the 
Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society (xxxvi. pp. 22-52), and is 
illustrated by twelve figures of nie to represent the phenomena of 
albinism. 
With respect to albino Orchids it is remarked: ‘‘ Recent results show 
that when true albino Orchids (7.e., with no trace of purple sap colour) are 
crossed, the offspring may be all albinos, all coloured reversions, or both 
albino and coloured forms may be raised from the same capsule.” Examples 
are given, most of which have already appeared in our pages. An attempt 
is made to classify the known albinos into two groups, termed ‘‘C” and 
‘‘R” albinos, the letters being described as purely arbitrary symbols which 
conveniently serve to distinguish the complimentary colour factors which 
are stated to determine the presence or absence of ‘sap colour. “If both 
the colour factors C and R are present, the sap is coloured; if either C or 
R is absent, the sap is colourless, and the plant is an albino. Consequently 
different albinos may carry different colour factors ; some may be C albinos, 
carrying the C factor, while others may be R albinos, carrying the R factor.” 
Subdivisions of C and R albinos are also given, as pure and impure, 
purity being regarded as due to the double presence of the colour factor, 
