THE ORCHID REVIEW. 263 
DIES ORCHIDIANA, 
THE case of the variety or sport of Cypripedium X Harrisianum in the Law 
Courts, reported at page 239 of your last issue, raises a rather curious 
question ; but there is a lack of detail in the report, which makes it difficult 
to form an opinion on the merits of the case. It appears that Messrs. Sander 
saw certain peculiarities of colouration in a variety of C. x Harrisianum, 
which induced them to give the comparatively high price of a thousand 
francs for it; but that when it flowered again these peculiarities were not 
present. What their nature was does not appear, nor is it recorded whether 
the plant was a seedling flowering for the first time, or a portion of some 
older plant which had originated as a sport, like the curious forms of C. x 
Dauthieri, which have been described in the Review. Again, it is not 
recorded what the flowers were like the next year, only that they were of 
an inferior character. And these little details are just what one would like 
to know. It is not suggested that the vendor of this erratic plant was 
aware of its tricks, and took advantage of an innocent purchaser, otherwise 
the case might appear different. It has sometimes been recommended that 
in order to avoid being taken in, people should purchase their plants in 
flower, but the present case suggests that even plants in flower may not 
always prove to be what they seem. Such cases, however, are fortunately 
not common, though if the plant is a genuine sport it may again surprise 
its present possessor in a more agreeable way. Sports are just those things 
which appear when least expected, and which no one will be answerable for 
when they do come, though in most cases they prove permanent, and what- 
ever their subsequent behaviour, they are invariably regarded with interest. 
I should like to know a little more about the history of the one now under 
consideration. 
It seems quite possible that sports among Orchids may become more 
common in future, as hybridising progresses. It now seems to be generally 
agreed that it is chiefly, if not altogether, among plants which have Leeds 
much crossed that they occur, and some recent hybrids are of very mixed 
Parentage, especially among Cypripediums, and this is likely to be in- 
creasingly so in future. The theory is that under certain conditions the 
blood of the different parent species tends to become dissociated, hence the 
Production of a bud with different characteristics to that of the plant which 
Produced it, and this, on development, gives rise to a new form. Complete 
dissociation seldom or never takes place, otherwise a hybrid might be found 
Sporting back to its original parent species ; but partial reversion takes 
Place, as is seen in the curious Cypripedium  Dauthieri Rossianum, 
Is More striped than the typical Ci Dauthieri from which it originated, 
which 
