THE ORCHID REVIEW. 9 
VARIETIES. 
No question with which we have to deal is of such general interest, and at 
the same time so difficult, as that of naming and distinguishing the 
varieties of the different Orchids which we cultivate. Several of our most 
popular species exhibit a surprising amount of variation as compared with 
others, and while it constitutes one of their chief charms, it is also a source 
of perplexity. As we do not care to grow essentially different things under 
the same name, we adopt the practice of giving varietal names to distinguish 
them, and here it is that the difficulty comes in. In the case of species, 
the botanical system of properly recording them and describing their 
characters prevents confusion arising to a very great extent, though it is 
not altogether absent, but in the case of varieties it is very different. Some 
of the latter, of course, are properly described, and a certain amount of care 
is taken not to introduce confusion by re-describing old ones, but with 
many others this is not the case. In fact, the names of multitudes of 
varieties are on record which it is impossible to identify, owing to the absence 
of all description. And proper care is not always taken before naming 
them to see that they are really distinct. The result is that the 
nomenclature of varieties is in a state of hopeless confusion, and, 
unfortunately, we see no immediate hope of improvement. On the 
contrary, the confusion seems to be growing worse almost every day, for 
Reports of the different Shows often contain names of new varieties without 
any description of their character, and how it is possible to identify the 
plants afterwards is beyond our power to imagine. It may be suggested 
that this is the fault of the reporter, though, apart from want of time, it is 
difficult to say how many of them are to be distinguished, were he to 
attempt it. For example: we recently found a well-known variety, of 
which all existing pieces are subdivisions of one original plant, exhibited 
under its correct name but with an addition, which, not to identify it too 
closely, we will call Mr. Blank Blank’s variety. The plant already had a 
varietal name, and the addition of another, which added four words and 
no less than eighteen letters to the name, was altogether unnecessary, and — 
worse than useless when the origin of the plant is considered. It may be 
urged that this was an exceptional example, but there are plenty of others 
very little better. We have repeatedly omitted names of this kind, as, of 
course, in the case just mentioned, but occasionally such plants receive an 
award, and the name is recorded, though the award is not always a 
‘guarantee of its distinctness. Naming varieties of some of our popular 
garden Orchids is now a most difficult matter, and as we do not wish it to 
become impossible, we hope that steps will be taken, both by example and 
precept, to check this rapidly growing evil. Let those who would make 
