THE ORCHID REVIEW. 205 
remained normal it would have shown that the additional stamens were not 
reversions of petaloid staminodes of the outer staminal whorl, but of the 
inner whorl ; that is of the two staminodes which form the wings or, teeth 
of the column. But a careful examination proved that they belonged to 
the former. In short, these organs had reverted to an ancestral condition, 
and, of course, could not do duty as staminodes at the same time. It was 
also shown that the normal stamen may occasionally become petaloid as a: 
abnormal condition. : 
Darwin, in a chapter on the ‘‘ Homologies of the Flowers of Orchids” 
in his Fertilisation of Orchids has shown how in many Orchids he traced the 
vascular bundes of the side lobes of the lip to the cords which supply the 
ateral stamens (not to the one from which the middle lobe arises), hence 
they occupy precisely the position of the lateral stamens of the outer whorl 
of a lily or other monocotyledon, proving that they are homologous with 
them, but modified into petaloid staminodes. Darwin observes :—‘‘ The 
labellum is formed of one petal, with two petaloid stamens of the outer 
whorl, likewise completely confluent. I may remark, as making this fact 
more probable, that in the allied Marantacee the stamens, even the fertile 
stamens, are often petaloid, and partially cohere. This view of the nature 
of the labellum explains its large size, its frequently tripartite form, and 
especially the manner of its coherence to the column, unlike that of the 
other petals.” The above facts leave little room for doubt as to the origin 
of the organs in question. It may further be pointed out that the wings 
of the column are sometimes as truly petaloid as the side lobes of the 
lip, but no one doubts that they are staminodes, and pefectly homologous 
with the stamens of Cypripedium, or with the lateral stamens of the inner 
whorl of a lily or other monocotyledon. 
R.A. R. 
DIACRIUM BICORNUTUM. 
AN interesting note respecting this beautiful Orchid is given by Mr. W. E. 
Broadway, of Grenada, in the Gardeners’ Chronicle for May 2nd (p. 548) :— 
“On boulders and bare stumps, which would otherwise be bare and 
unsightly objects about the Botanic Garden and the Government House 
Grounds, clumps of this most lovely Virgin Mary Orchid have been planted, 
and are now in full blossom (March 23th, 1896). The pure white flowers 
with dotted and streaked lip and column-base, fill the air with a delightful 
aroma, and these, massed together in profuse numbers, form a very effective 
sight, glistening in the sun as though covered with frost: We have a 
specimen which differs somewhat from the ordinary white in this respect, 
