THE ORCHID REVIEW. 167 
REGARDING CERTAIN SUPPOSED HYBRID ORCHIDS. 
bes is one of the misfortunes of botanical writers that, in consequence of no 
the same errors are repeated by various authors, 
ee on from one publication to another, I was much struck with this 
when taking up Mr. Hansen’s book, The Orchid Hybrids, the other day. 
The following plants should certainly be erased as possible hybrids, as they 
are nothing of the kind :— 
Dendrobium Donnesiz.—It is well known that D. formosum and D. 
infundibulum do not grow together, so that a natural hybrid between them 
is impossible. Certain botanists consider D. infundibulum to be a mountain 
form of D. formosum. It is probable that D. Donnesiz is another form. 
Orchids of the same species vary considerably according to the varying 
influences under which they grow. The form and shape of the bulbs differ, 
as do also the flowers. D. formosum is certainly an instance of this. The 
common form found in quantity at Moulmein and along the coast to Tavoy 
has the bulbs much swollen in the middle ; the flowers also are distinguished 
by their broad and lax petals. The form of D. formosum found in the 
Andamans and adjoining islands called D. formosum Berkeleyi has much 
thinner stems of even thickness throughout. The flowers are also quite 
different, being more funnel-shaped, and not having lax petals. It is cer- 
tainly near to D. infundibulum, and it is highly probable that D. Donnesiz 
is a similar island form. We have quite enough difficulties regarding 
hybrids without the repetition of errors made without sufficient information. 
D. Wattii is another very doubtful hybrid. 
The late Professor Reichenbach was of opinion that D. Findlayanum 
was a natural hybrid between D. Aphrodite and D. gratiosissimum, but 
this is absurd, as the plants grow widely apart. D. Aphrodite is essentially 
a hot Orchid. I invariably found this plant growing on the top of 
immensely high trees in the low hot plains of Burmah in company with D. 
dixanthum and D. albosanguineum, so that a natural hybrid might be 
expected between these, but up to this time none has ever turned up. 
D. Findlayanum is found growing in company with D. Jamesianum and 
D. gratiosissimum, principally on rocky precipices under entirely different 
conditions as regards temperature, and is a plant never found in the low 
country. Thus D. Findlayanum being a natural hybrid is impossible. 
Perhaps the botanists may eventually decide on considering it a mountain 
form of D. Aphrodite, in the same way as they consider D. infundibulum 
and D. Jamesianum as mountain forms of D. formosum, but certainly let 
D. Findlayanum be in future excluded as a possible hybrid. 
Among the Phalenopses some of Mr. Hansen’s supposed hybrids are 
still more impossible. Of course, to anyone knowing the localities any 
