194 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[August, 1916. 



<^cnus Odontoglossum. Reichenbach, in 

 1873, described it as Oncidium stelligerum, 

 under which name it has appeared in several 

 collections of the past. The spike is generally 

 4 — 5 feet long, with short distant branches 

 each bearing 3 — 4 flowers, about inches in 

 diameter, of chocolate-brown colour, bordered 

 and barred with light yellow-green. Concern- 

 ing this species Messrs. Veitch remark: — 

 " The aspect of O. hastatuiu when in flower is 

 remarkable ; its long loose panicles, over 

 w^iich its star-like flowers are not very 

 thickly scattered, are made attractive by the 

 surprising variety of colours, some of strong 

 contrast, to be seen in each flower. We know 

 of no Orchid in which this peculiarity is more 

 apparent." 



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Registered Orchids. — A correspondent 

 wishes to know if there are any means of 

 registering a particular variety, so that m the 

 event of the plant being divided and the stock 

 distributed it may be possible for subsequent 

 purchasers to ascertain the genuineness of any 

 so-called portions. This is a matter which 

 presents some difficulty, for although a certain 

 plant IS highly prized by its owner, perhaps 

 because it bears his own or a relation's name, 

 it may not be considered worthy of an award 

 by any of the recognised committees, hence 

 there is often no means of verification. The 

 R.H.S. have a rule that all Orchids receiving 

 a F.C.C. or A.M. must be duly recorded by 

 means of a painting, executed at the expense 

 of the Society, and in cases where the 

 owner does not grant reasonable facility for 

 obtaining the painting the award is with- 

 drawn. The Manchester Orchid Society 

 preserves paintings of only the F.C.C. varie- 

 ties, the owner of the plant bearing the cost 

 of presenting a true painting to the Society. 

 Now in the case of species that have been 

 before the pubhc for a long period, as, for 

 example, Odontoglossum crispum, the stand- 

 ard adopted by the committees is necessarily 

 very high, and additional awards are only 

 granted to specially meritorious varieties, 

 hence many beautiful forms fail to receive 

 official recognition, and thus miss formal 



registration. Considering the above circum- 

 stances, it would meet the wishes of not a few 

 Orchidists if the R.H.S. could arrange to 

 preserve any paintings of uncertificated 

 varieties which owners might desire to send, 

 although it would be necessary that a living 

 flower should also be sent m order that the 

 veracity of the painting might be proved 

 before its official acceptance. A small fee of, 

 say, 2s. 6d. might be made to cover any 

 expense incurred. 



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Epidendrum prismatocarpum. 



Epidendrum PRISMATOCARPU^I. — Visi- 

 tors to the recent R.H.S. Summer Show at 

 Holland Park were agreeably surprised to 

 find a magnificent specimen of Epidendrum 

 prismatocarpum standing at the end of the 

 principal Orchid groups. Probably never 

 before has such a handsome plant of this 

 species been seen, the numerous bulbs were 

 evenly distributed, the foliage in a remarkably 

 healthy condition, and the 47 many-flowered 

 spikes created a most attractive picture. The 

 exhibitor, Mr. F. Menteith Ogilvie, well 

 deserved the congratulations he received for 

 his noteworthy exhibit, the more so because 

 but few growers take so keen an interest in 

 their plants as does this well-known amateur. 

 To his able cultivator, Mr. W. Balmforth, 

 praise is also due, and the awarding of a Silver 

 Lindley Medal met with general satisfaction. 

 The number of hybrids now seen in most 

 collections prevents much space being given 



