&4 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [FEBRUARY, 1908 
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BRITISH ORCHIDS. 
“Some British Orchids” was the title of an interesting lecture given — 
by Mr. H. Edmonds, B. Sc., at a meeting of the Brighton Natural 
History and Philosophical Society, held in the Brighton Corporation Art — 
Galleries, Church Street, last week. Orchids, he observed, were widely 
distributed, being found everywhere except in the polar regions, but they 
reached their greatest development in the hot, moist atmosphere of ‘tropical 
forests. Here they were usually found unbidden guests growing on branches 
or trunks of trees. But although flourishing in such a position they were 
not parasitic. They did not take their nourishment from their hosts, as was 
the case with the Dodder and Mistletoe; they were provided with remark- 
able aérial roots, which, hanging down in the atmosphere, took their 
nourishment from the gases present and the moisture, which they condensed. 
The family was a most extensive one. Yet, though so numerous, no — 
specimen appeared so prolific in individuals as to constitute a feature in the 
landscape. The British Orchids numbered about forty species, distributed 
among some sixteen or seventeen genera. Ofthese species, according to the 
new edition of Arnold’s ‘ Flora of Sussex,”’ twenty-eight were found in this 
country. Some fifteen of these species were described in great detail by 
Mr. Edmonds, his remarks being illustrated by many lantern slides. At the 
close of the lecture Mr. G. Morgan conveyed the thanks of the audience to 
Mr. Edmonds, and observing that in Shropshire, where he formerly lived, 
he had never found a third of the Orchids that he had discovered in Sussex, 
asked what determined the growth of the flowers. Mr. Edmonds replied that 
many of the Orchids seemed to grow upon chalk, while the Bee Orchis 
and others were to be found only on the northern side of hills—never on the 
sunny side. There also seemed to be certain heights at which they 
flourished.—Journal of Horticulture. 
ORCHIDS AT WISLEY.—The Report of the Council of the Royal 
Horticultural Society, for 1907, which has just been issued, states that the 
rously purchased for the Society's 
V.M.H., K.C.V.O., is gradually being 
Contributions of Orchids have 
evor Lawrence, Bart., V.M.H. 
» Major Holford, C.I.E., C.V.0. 
Esq, F, Wellesley, Esq., J.P., J. S. Moss, 
arkes, Esq., Messrs. J. Veitch, Messts- 
re, and Messrs. George Bunyard. It is 
ucleus of a far larger c ion in a few 
years to come. 8 ollect 
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