APRIL, 1909.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 99 
pod without the flower opening. A pretty red Epidendrum belies its name 
by plentifully growing in the soil at the edge of the cliffs. Many other 
species of the genus of lesser beauty abound, also Maxillaria, Pleurothallis, 
and other genera, some with very minute flowers and horticulturally un- 
interesting. 
Cyrtopodiums of large dimensions grow in the arid sands, and 
occasionally their glue is used by natives. Two or more species of Vanilla 
start in life as ground Orchids, and after climbing thirty feet or more up 
large trunks, cut off connection with the soil and become epiphytes. 
Sophronitis cernua masses itself round many yards of tall trunks. 
When in flower, the numerous little points of dazzlingly brilliant colour 
excite deep admiration. Tree ferns are beautified in spring and autumn by 
the flowers of Zygopetalum maxillare, which grows on them. 
According to a legend, a ship from the far East, with Phaius grandifolius 
on board, was wrecked a few leagues to the south. The Phaius survived, 
and its descendants are to be met with in many directions. 
Amongst the grass there are many flowers resembling Orchis. In the 
woods again, three or more species of beautiful Miltonia and Rodriguezia 
will reward the patient searcher, and on the adjacent higher ranges of the 
mainland, Scuticaria Hadwenii, Colax jugosus, Leptotes bicolor, Bifrenaria 
Harrisoniz, Houlettia Brocklehurstiana, Sophronitis grandiflora, S. 
violacea, and many other gems will greet him. 
Well over one hundred distinct species of Orchids exist within a six 
mile radius, but many months of careful toil through pathless dense forest, 
climbs over precipitous granite hills, and plunges into evil-smelling swamps 
are necessary to acquiring an exhaustive local collection. J. J. KEEVIL. 
‘We thank Mr. Keevil for this graphic and very interesting account of 
the Orchids of this small islet, which contains several new facts about the 
distribution of Brazilian Orchids. The islet is about 200 miles south-west 
of Rio de Janeiro, and 300 north-east of the island of Santa Catherina, the 
well-known locality of Leliocattleya x elegans, which it now appears 
occurs also at Santo Amaro. We suspect that the Cattleya guttata 
mentioned is really C. Leopoldi, that being one of the parents of L.-c. x 
elegans. From the facts stated it seems probable that other natural hybrids 
occur there. The doubt about the habitat of Stanhopea insignis alluded to 
probably arose through a confusion made by Lindley. The habitat was 
originally given as S. America only, and Lindley at first confused with it a 
plant collected at Quito, by Humboldt and Bonpland, which he afterwards 
transferred to S. bucephalus. Epidendrum Capartianum is synonymous 
with E. amictum, Rchb. f. We should like to know more about the 
Catasetums and Gongora mentioned, also the name of the bee which 
fertilises the latter.—Ep.} 
