I30 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[March, 1916. 



importations, if such can be obtained, may 

 throw more hght on this confusing plant. 

 Meantime, Sanderas may be regarded as the 

 finest known Cymbidium in the eburneum 

 section. 



C. insigne (Sanden) is now weU known and 

 appreciated. Here, again, we have a 

 Cymbidium standing weh away from any of 

 the previously known forms. Its tall spike, 

 narrow leafage, the shape of the lip and the 

 rounded bulbs exhibit little affinity with the 

 Burmese types, and if there be any connec- 

 tion between the Annam Ballianum and 

 Sanderas, and the Burmese Ballianum and 

 Parishii it seems surprising that such a well- 

 marked and comparatively plentiful species is 

 not also represented in Burmah. Apart from 

 its specific value as a beautiful and decorative 

 plant, its influence on our present and future 

 hybrids is and will be of great importance. 



C. Schroderi among the new species more 

 closely resembles the Burmese types than any 

 other. The habit is allied to that of 

 Lowianum and giganteum. Though not as 

 beautiful as Sanderi, insigne, roseum, etc., it 

 will produce from 20 to 30 flowers on a spike, 

 and its constitutional value as a parent may 

 be seen in the hybrid glebelandense, of which 

 some remarkably fine-spiked examples were 

 shown about a year ago. Its colour, not 

 unlike that of a pale giganteum, is against it, 

 but in hybrids to come this feature may be 

 modified to advantage. 



C. erythrostylum, like msigne, seems to be 

 a monot)'pic species without any close allies, 

 unless such be discovered later. It blooms 

 earlier, or later, in the season than any other 

 species, ancl is peculiar in its habit, shape of 

 the hp and colouring, the glistening white of 

 the sepals and petals being whiter than in any 

 other. Its aloofness is carried still further as 

 it does not seem nearly so amenable to culture 

 as the other species. To the hybridist it is still 

 something of a problem. From the other 

 Cymbidiums at command it would seem 

 impossible to enlarge the flowers and lengthen 

 the spike, while retaining the purity of colour 

 — its great charm. Perhaps the white variety 

 of insigne may prove the means. 



With C. I'Ansonii confusion still exists. 

 There is certainly a superficial resemblance 



to the artificial hybrid Cravenianum, but the 

 area of white at the base of the lip is usually 

 well marked. In all probability it is a genuine 

 species, of which a few plants were obtained 

 m earlier importations from Burmah, possibly 

 strays from Annam, or obtained from its 

 borders, easily understandable as collectors 

 seldom obtain plants with their own hands, 

 but from a base. The natives are sent out in 

 all directions and bring m plants from con- 

 siderable distances ; possibly they obtain 

 these in turn from their friends. C. Wilsonii 

 has, unfortunately, not been seen by the 

 writer ; possibly it belongs to this Annam 

 group, or it may be the forerunner of a new 

 group from Yunnan. 



In many other genera of' Orchids, Odonto- 

 glossums, Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, Cypripe- 

 diums, etc., the existence of natural hybrids 

 has been proved, and it is to be hoped that 

 equal proof will be forthcoming among 

 Cymbidiums. It is excusable, on finding one, 

 or a few, apparently isolated plants to class 

 them as natural hybrids, as, for instance, when 

 Tracyanum was first flowered, giganteum and 

 grancliflorum being mentioned as possible 

 parents until the introduction in quantity 

 refuted the theory. 



On the other hand, it is quite possible that 

 some of our species may have originated as 

 natural hybrids, which, possibly by reason of 

 a greater attraction to insects than the 

 parents, or by greater adaptability to changing 

 or local environment, have gradually displaced 

 the original species, and in course of time 

 have acquired such specific characters as to 

 still further separate them. 



Plants, too, which appear to resemble each 

 other closely may in reality have but a family 

 relationship. When growing close to each 

 other and existing under similar conditions, 

 and particularly if they flower at the same 

 period, as several of these Annam Cym- 

 bidiums do, they are more than likely to 

 acquire similar leafage, flower-spikes, etc., as 

 the conditions they are subjected to would be 

 the same to all the species in the immediate 

 neighbourhood, and the plants would naturally 

 acquire those characters, probably very 

 similar, which would enable them the better 

 to adapt themselves. 



