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CYMBIDIUM (HYBRIDUM) WINNIANUM Hart. 



A hybrid raised from Cymbidium giganteum, Lindl.,? and C. eburneum, Lindl., £ whose characters it combines. The stem and leaves closely 

 resemble those of the pollen parent, the latter being long and gracefully arching. The racemes are a little shorter than the leaves, arching, and bear from 

 five to twelve flowers, which much resemble those of the seed parent in shape. The sepals and petals are ivory-white or nearly straw-vellow, the former oblong- 

 lanceolate in shape, and the latter considerably narrower, and somewhat falcate. The lip is ivory-white, handsomely blotched with bright brownish crimson 

 on the side lobes and near the margin of the crisped front lobe. A pair of pubescent orange-yellow keels extend along the disc, and become confluent and 

 more hairy near their apex. Thus it will appear that in the vegetative organs the hybrid most resembles the pollen parent, while the flowers are most 

 like those of C. giganteum, though modified in colour. The flowers are deliciously fragrant. 



Cymbidium x Winmanum, Hort, Gard. Chron, 1892, ii., p. 566; Orchid Review, I., p. 22 ; Veitch Man. Orch., IX., p. 24. 



This handsome hybrid was raised in the collection of Charles Winn, Esq., of The Uplands, Selly Hill, Birmingham, from the parents above-named. 

 A plant bearing five racemes of flowers was exhibited by Messrs. F. Sander & Co., of St. Albans, at a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on 

 November 1st, 1892, and was awarded a First-class Certificate by the Orchid Committee. It is a plant of robust habit, a free grower and very floriferous, and 

 therefore should become popular when the plants become more numerous. At present it is very rare-in fact, Mr. Winn states that he raised only two plants, 

 one of which was acquired by Messrs. Sander, and the other retained in his own collection. It is the second hybrid in the genus, the first being C. X eburneo- 

 Lowianum, raised by Mr. Seden, in which the popular and handsome C. Lowianum was the seed parent. This group is a very promising one for the hybridist 

 and further developments may be expected, as by crossing the free-growing and floriferous C. Lowianum with other species of the group more variety might 

 be introduced. C. grandiflorum and C. Tracyanum are promising subjects for experiments in this direction, on account of their massive and handsome 

 fl ° WerS ' R. A. Rolfc. 



Our analytical drawings represent front view of labellum ; side and front view of column ; pollii 



Our coloured plate is a faithful portrait of a remarkable wavy, petalled "Boat Orchid" raised five years ago by 

 Charles Winn, Esq., one of the most successful of amateurs who cultivate our favourite orchids, in the vicinity of 

 Birmingham. The only drawback to our admiration for the delicate grace and beauty of this new hybrid rests on the 

 fact that so far it is excessively rare, only two individuals being at present in existence. 



Now that we have at least a couple of these hybrid Cymbidia, it follows as a mere matter of course that we may 

 soon look for more, as we happen to know that plants and seedlings from other crosses are growing up rapidly to flower- 

 ing age and size. 



As evergreen orchids of the easiest possible culture, all the various species and varieties deserve a place even in 

 ordinary warm plant-houses or stoves, where we have seen them ofttimes as healthy and as floriferous as in orchid houses 

 proper. Grown in pots of peat and loam fibre, they increase in size almost too rapidly, where space is limited, and in the 

 case of C. Lowianum, C. giganteum, and one or two other kinds, their flowers endure fresh and fair if possible almost 

 too long. We have had fresh flowers on C. Lowianum, for example, for at least twelve weeks, i.e., eighty-four days from 

 the date of their first opening, and one result of the intercrossing the species, as in the present instance, has led to the 

 production of more waxy and long-enduring flowers. 



The raising of seedlings of all kinds has been well described as " the poetry of gardening," but when as in this 

 case, hybrids are obtained between two widely distinct species, the results are far more tangible and satisfying than those 

 of a magician's wand. Here, in all truth, have we exemplified the most potent factor in the evolution of our garden flora 

 and our best thanks are due to Mr. Winn, and others who not only cultivate our most popular orchids, but use their best 

 endeavours to improve and alter, and enhance their charms for us as well. 



The genus is widely distributed. We find Cymbidium in Ceylon and Nepal, in the Himalayas, in Burmah 

 Australia, Ch.na, and Japan, and it is just possible that owing to this and the greatly different temperatures and climati- 

 cal effects under which they flourish in their native homes, it has not been hitherto possible to raise anything like a 

 quantity of seedling hybrids. 



