44 



THE BOOK OF ORCHIDS 



macrocarpum, C. splendens, and C. tabulare. The Cata- 

 setums are natives of Central America. The flowers 

 are produced on erect or sub-pendulous spikes, and the 

 plants are characterised by short, stout, usually pointed 

 pseudo bulbs and large plicate leaves, and the freedom 

 with which short aerial roots are produced. It is a 

 remarkable fact that in some species of Catasetum there 

 are male and female flowers quite distinct in structure 

 and colour, the one from the other, and, what is most 

 curious, borne on the same plant at different times, yet 

 on several occasions plants have been exhibited that 

 have had flowers of both sexes open on the one spike, 

 and at the same time. A general peculiarity of female 

 flowers is that they reach maturity sooner than males. 

 There are yet many species of which the female flower 

 is unknown, but it is hoped that in course of time they 

 may all be discovered. The fertilisation of the Cata- 

 setum is also very remarkable, and the remarks of 

 G. S. Jenman in the Demerara Argosy of June 8th, 

 1889, are interesting. He had been watching the course 

 of procedure followed by two or three species of 

 bees which constantly visited some Catasetum flowers. 

 These bees belong to the genus Euglossa, a genus 

 allied to Bombus, which comprises only the common 

 humble bees, and the members of the two genera are 

 about the same size, that is from three quarters to one 

 and a quarter inches long. The members of Euglossa 

 are distinguished by the long proboscis they possess, 

 which exceeds the length of the body when stretched 

 its full length. When not employed it is kept folded 

 near the mouth. The smaller of the two species which 

 he captured had two bars of yellow or gold on the base* 

 of the body, and the larger one three. In most of the 

 Catasetums the female flowers are inverted, the lip, 

 which is in the shape of a hood, being above the other 

 parts, with the column, to which it is attached, under- 



