THE ORCHID REVIEW. 303 
NOMENCLATURE OF HYBRID CYPRIPEDIUMS. 
I OBSERVE a note in the last number of the Orcuip REVIEW (page 275), in 
which you have suggested an alteration in the name of Mr. Statter’s hybrid 
Cypripedium, from C. x Excelsior to C. x excellens, on the ground that 
there is already a C. x Excelsior in the collection of M. Jules Hye, with 
parentage Druryi x Spicerianum. We have had this latter cross here for 
several years under the name of C. x Buchanianum. It was raised by 
Mr. Osborne in the collection of the late Mr. Buchan, of Southampton. I 
saw a plant in flower that M. Jules Hye had over here, our plants being in flower 
at the same time, and I told him then that the two were identical. I quite 
agree that it is very confusing to have two plants from different parents under 
the same name, and it is equally so when different names are given to plants 
having the same parentage. In the present case, however, I think you over- 
looked the fact that the earlier C. x Excelsior is synonymous with C. x 
Buchanianum, or you would not have suggested the change of name. 
It is surprising what a number of hybrid Cypripediums have received 
different names, where the same parents have been used, and unless very 
great care is taken in the future things will get more mixed than ever, with 
so many seedlings cropping up around us. There was an instance before 
the Orchid Committee of the R. H. S. on August 11th, where a plant shown 
as Cypripedium x Metéor, was determined to be a variety previously shown 
as C. x Charles Richman (C. bellatulum x barbatum superbum), though 
the superior merits of the latter gained for it a First-class Certificate. — 
There are, I am sorry to say, instances in which the Orchid Committee 
have given awards to plants which have previously been before them under 
other names, and recognised under both, though the parentage has been the 
same. I quite agree with you that varietal distinction should be recognised 
in the case of seedlings which are distinct or superior to the original form, 
as in the case of C. x Harrisianum virescens, and others. 
H. CHAPMAN. 
Cambridge Lodge, Camberwell. 
(Mr. Chapman is quite right in supposing that the facts he points out 
were overlooked, or the change would not have been proposed. The nomen- 
clature of hybrids generally was considered in some detail at p. 340 of our 
last volume, and three other correspondents have written strengthening our 
hands in this matter. The case of Cypripedium x Charles Richman 
emphasises one of our suggestions. Had it been called C. x Richmanii 
the varietal name superbum (or any other) could have been added, if 
necessary. But some of the hybrids which have received different names 
are not worth distinguishing, even as varieties.—Ep.] 
