THE ORCHID REVIEW. 55 
in a line with the two sepals (anterior and posterior), two perfect anthers. 
Curiously enough the anthers are reversed, both facing inwards, the two 
column-beaks (rostella) touching but free, overlooked by two column-wings, 
one on each flank, the hinges of the pollen-caps being as far apart as 
possible. I fail to find any trace of a stigma, but the overy is one-selled, 
as usual. 
The following diagram will perhaps show at a glance the position of 
the principal parts of this peculiar flower :-— 
SS) 
BP A Pp; 
A 
$s 
S = Sepal. P= Petal. A = Anther. 
I might also state that the flower came alone on its pseudobulb, and 
without the usual sheath ; while another pseudobulb on the same plant is 
bearing two perfectly normal flowers. 
Personally, I wish to thank Mr. Rolfe for his very interesting and 
Suggestive article, “ The Structure of an Orchid Flower,” in the December 
Review. When we see in the great family of Orchids so many varied and 
wonderful structures, each, apparently, being the means to an end, we 
cannot but wonder why and how they came to be; and although we may 
not yet be able to know why they exist, yet, thanks to modern research 
upon the lines adopted by that great naturalist, Charles Darwin, we are 
~ able, in a measure, to know how they came about; and by tracing 
the descent of the present-day Orchids to their probable source—the 
simple monocotyledon—we are able to get a little nearer to that more 
Temote, but none the less interesting question, the origin of all forms 
of life. 
Cuarves C. Hurst. 
Burbage Nurseries, near Hinckley. b 
[It seems highly probable that the organ called the “lower sepal 
was the median petal unmodified into a lip, the more so from the fact of 
there being an additional stamen; and as this stamen occupies the 
Position of a 3, it would appear that both the lateral sepals and the 
Corresponding stamens of the outer whorl—i.c., the side lobes of the Lg : 
were suppressed. The alternative would be that these organs respectively 
were confluent in one, and the median petal absent, which is less likely, 
€specially when one remembers that A 2 and A 3 are branches of the cords 
which feed the lateral sepals. It is a very curious and interesting flower, 
Which we should have liked to have seen.—ED.] 
