304 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [OCTOBER, 1907, 
Megaclinium minutum are dwarf representatives of three other genera, 
The lecturer referred to the curious and striking Arachnanthe annamensis, 
which produces an inflorescence bearing eight to ten flowers, each 5 inches 
in length and with transverse bars of yellow on a red ground. Some of the 
most curious adaptations of Orchids are to be found in their labellums. In 
some species this organ is fleshy, as in Stanhopea, and in others, such as 
Brassavola, it is hairy, but fixed. In Bulbophyllum, however, it is not only 
hairy, but also hinged, so that it moves with the slightest displacement of 
air. Bulbophyllum barbigerum is a well known species, but B. tremulum 
is not socommonly seen. It has a heavy fringe of hanging hairs, which 
gives the plant a singular appearance. The curious habit of growth of 
Masdevallia deorsa was referred to, and Mr. Moore stated that this species 
refuses to grow in any but a pendulous position. Lycaste Dyeriana dies if 
‘t isnot allowed to grow with its roots uppermost. The species was flowered 
at Glasnevin in 1896. A curious adaptation of growth is seen in Epidendrum 
vesicatum. The leaves of this plant form a cup, and the upper pair enclose 
the flowers and form such a cavity, that were they in the normal upright 
position the flower-spike would become rotten, owing to the presence of 
water. 
Other species of Orchids which require a pendulous position are Brassa- 
vola nodosa, Cattleya citrina, and Scuticaria Steelii. In opposition to this 
habit of growth are varieties which must be grown in a perfectly upright 
position, with their growths erect. Ccelogyne triplicatula, when planted in 
an ordinary flat manner, refused to grow, but it was trained erect, and it 
succeeded splendidly. It is a very scarce species, with brownish-yellow 
flowers, having darker lips, with markings on the keels. Some Orchids are — 
self-fertile to a high degree, and of this class may be mentioned certain — 
forms of Dendrobium Brymerianum, but, as is to be expected, the flowers — 
of such forms are quite unimportant in appearance. Cymbidium grandi- 
florum (syn. C. Hookerianum) seldom opens its flowers, which are self- 
fertilised. : 
A curious plant is Pleurothallis immersa. The flower-spike appears ie 
develop from the leaf blade about half-way up, and the growth is not com — 
tiguous. The usual appearance of an Orchid flower is with the lip in the : 
lower position, but this is due to torsion in the ovary, and when, as ™ 
Eria globifera, the torsion is not present the lip is uppermost, and what © 
really the correct position of the flower appears abnormal. . 
crurigera. Mr. Moore stated that the genus Maxillaria contains sev 
species with remarkable flowers, one of the most interesting being 
fractiflexa, which has curiously twisted sepals and petals. 
