THE ORCHID WORLD. 



Phalcenopiis hlarrielts. 



PHAL/ENOPSIS HARRIETT/E. 



THIS interest J hybrid l)et\veen aiiiubilis 

 and viohicea has oval leaves of a 

 bright green colour. 1 he spikes carry- 

 two or more flowers, about 3 inches in 

 diameter, intermediate between those of the 

 parents. Sepals and petals cream colour, 

 much spotted and stained with rose-purple on 

 tlie basal half, the dorsal sepal oval-oblon;.^', 

 the lateral sepals ovate-oblong-, keeled behind, 

 the colour confined to the inner half, as in P. 

 violacea. Petals much broader and obtuse, as 

 in P. aniabilis. Lip distinctly clawed, the 

 lateral lobes intermediate in shape between 

 the broad spreading ones of P. amabilis and 

 the narrow appressed fleshy ones of P. 

 \ iolacea, cream colour spotted with brown- 

 purple below, rose-purple above ; the inter- 

 mediate lobe broadly trowel-shaped with the 

 lateral angles somewhat acute and the apex 

 distinctly notched, fleshy, and bright rose- 

 l)urple, as in P. violacea. Column stained 

 with rose-[)urple. Receixed a First-class 



[Xo\L'nibcr, 1915. 



Certificate, R.II.S., July 26th, 1887. Raised 

 by Seden for Messrs. \'eitch and Sons, who 

 sold the only plant to the Hon. Erastus 

 Corning, of Albany, T.S.A., in honour of 

 whose daughter it was named. 



SOPHRONITIS HYBRIDS. 



H(J\\'E\'ER much the finest hybrids 

 are appreciated, there is no depart- 

 ing from the fact that we are still 

 obliged to pay attention to certain species 

 which stand out significantly on account of 

 their colour. True it is that these richly- 

 coloured species often produce small flowers, 

 but for want of better material the\- continue 

 to be made use of with mure or less 

 sauslacLory results. 



The charming little Sophronitis grandiflora 

 is too well kncjwn to need description, and 

 little wonder that its brilliant colour, of so 

 rare a kind among Orchids, has attracted the 

 hybridist. Despite the many failures that 

 have fallen to the lot of those who attempt 

 the production of a large scarlet Cattleya one 

 must acknowledge that several praiseworthy 

 results have been obtained. In the best of 

 Soi)lironitis hybrids there is a medium-sized 

 flower of such a mysterious colour that it is 

 generally impossible to distinguish which is 

 the ground colour and which the overtint. 

 However, tliis is of minor importance to the 

 owner; the unusual laeauty of the flower fully 

 recompenses the purchaser or the grower who 

 has watched its slow development during a 

 comparatively long period. 



Now it IS this very slow rate of growth that 

 detracts more than anything else from the 

 l^opularity of Sophronitis hybrids. If only 

 they coulfl be made to progress with the saiiie 

 ra])idit)- as is witnessed in many La?lio- 

 Cattleya and other hybrids, what a source of 

 pleasure they would prove to the majority of 

 amateurs, and not less to the trade grower. 



In a batch f)f Sophronitis seedlings much 

 diversity exists ; some plants follow the hal)it 

 of growth seen in the L?elia or Cattleya 



