66 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [MARCH, 1908, 
The account of the behaviour of Paphiopedilum pollen is very interesting, — 
and I do not remember anything quite like it before, though its consistency 
and the dry nature of the stigma were well known—in fact a hybridist of my 
acquaintance tried to hybridise one with Cattleya pollen, and as it would 
not adhere to the stigma he was-ingenious enough to borrow some of the 
viscus from the Cattleya for the purpose. I rather think, however, that the 
cross was not successful. 
There are numerous unsolved problems among Orchids, and the figure 
of Chondropetalum Fletcheri given at page 56 illustrates one of them. I 
don’t think anyone could ‘call the plant Zygopetalum Mackayi, pure and 
simple—certainly not as regards colour—but on glancing at the figure of — 
the pollen parent on the opposite page one can only wonder what has 
happened. The concluding phrase, “a mystery,” is certainly applicable. 
I have, however, an idea on the subject. The Zygopetalum character 
appears to have been “ dominant,” and the Chondropetalum “ recessive,” 
so the thing will now be to fertilise the hybrid with its own pollen, so as to 
extract the recessives, @ Ja Mendel. There are several very marked 
characters about the Chondrorhyncha parent, and some of them certainly 
ought to return if self-fertilised seedlings could be obtained. Once upon a 
time I should have recommended that the hybrid be again crossed with 
Chondrorhyncha pollen, but now let us have an experiment on strict 
Mendelian lines, and give the Chondrorhyncha “ unit characters ” a chance. 
ARGUS. 
aril git. — 
DENDROBIUMS. 
plants. First and foremost among them should be mentioned the beautiful 
D. nobile, which has been a very popul 
original introduction in 1837. 
from the pure white virginale 
ar garden plant ever since its 
It presents a remarkable series of varieties, 
, to the large and richly-coloured nobilius, 
which has been known ever since 1878, but still ranks as one of the best, 
though among the large importati 
richness of colouring. Then there 
are the varieties Ballianum and murrhiniacum, in which the usual dark 
maroon blotch is replaced by one of a light rosy shade, Cooksonianum, 
in which a disc-like blotch appears on the petals, and burfordiense, in 
which similar blotches occur at the base of the lateral sepals. An 
account of the principal varieties was given at pp. 147-150 of our third 
volume. 7 
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