THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[August, 1915. 



ODONTIODA CEREUS. 



nobile triumphans C. Noezliana Harryanum 



Odm, excelleus Oda. Charlcsworthii 



Cereus 



Messrs. Armstrong and Brown send me 

 three varieties of this cross, different vastly in 

 the markings, reacting from a mass of dots in 

 one to being three-quarters covered in the 

 other extreme ; all of brown markings, 

 somewhat, but not much reddened. 



The ground colour has gone back to creamy- 

 white and yellow, form having reverted to 

 that of triumphans also. The lips present tlie 

 characteristics of nobile by being pandurate, 

 the columns varying between those of nobile 

 and triumphans. I hope the fine variety will 

 come. 



Speaking generally, the secondary crosses 

 with Oda. Charlcsworthii are very disap- 

 pointing, only a few prove as yet to be worth 

 raising for themselves. 



de B. Crawshay, Roseficld, June 2gih, igiS- 



FLOWERS IN SEASON. 



From Elizabeth, Lady Lawrence, we have 

 received some excellent examples of Thunias, 

 which grow with remarkable vigour in her 

 beautiful garden at Burford. A photograph, 

 giving an interior view of one of the Orchid 

 houses, is also kindly sent, and proves what 

 an attractive display can be made with these 

 plants when well grown. The tall and erect 

 leafy stems carry numerous flowers, and 

 continue to produce fresh ones during a 

 considerable period. Among the varieties 

 cultivated is T. candidissima, a charming 

 species, first flowered by the late Sir Trevor 

 Lawrence, Bart., who found it on an imported 

 plant of Dendrobium Wardianum. The 

 nodding inflorescence consists of about six 

 pure white flowers. T. Marshalhana alba is 

 also a favourite in the Burford collection, the 

 large pure white flowers having an orange- 

 yellow throat. ]Mr. E. Swinden, the able 



cultivator, is to be congratulated on the 

 success he achieves. Apart from the usual 

 method of dividing the plant, Thunias may be 

 propagated b)- cutting up the old stems into 

 pieces about 6 inches long and inserting 

 them in a pot in similar style to geranium 

 cuttings. 



During the past season Odontoglossum 

 hybrids have been unusuall}' fine in Mr. W'm. 

 Thompson's collection at Walton Grange. 

 We have received flowers of about twenty 

 varieties, all of good size and richly coloured. 

 The best is undoubtedU- amabile Thomp- 

 sonianum, which measures more than 4 inches 

 across, and is of rose ground colour with the 

 sepals and petals heavily blotched with 

 reddish-purple ; the extensive labellum bears 

 an immense solid blotch of crimson, the white 

 apex and the marginal dots increasing its 

 attractiveness. Two others of outstanding 

 merit are eximium Excelsior and the new 

 Odontioda Redwing. 



4s ^ 2^ 



Vaxda Parishii. — This species was 

 discovered in Moulmein in 1862 by the Rev. 

 C. S. Parish, but remained in obscurity until 

 1870 when it was rediscovered and imported 

 by Messrs. Low and Co. It is a dwarf, stout 

 growing plant, producing a stiff and erect 

 spike of greenish-yellow flowers spotted with 

 reddish-brown, the lip having the front lobe 

 pale magenta narrowly margined with white. 

 In the variety ]\Iarriottiana, which first 

 flowered in the collection of Sir W. H. 

 Marriott, Bart., there is a remarkable devia- 

 tion from the type as regards colour, the 

 sepals and petals being bronze-brown richly 

 suffused with magenta. The typical V. 

 Parishii is particularly sweet scented, but it 

 has been stated that the flowers of the 

 previously' mentioned variety are not scented, 

 which IS rather strange. This species is now 

 very rare in cultivation, which is much to be 

 regretted, for it is distinct in many ways and 

 well worth)- of a place amongst warm-house 

 Orchids. Messrs. Stuart Low and Co., of 

 Bush Hill Park and Jarvisbrook, have recently 

 flowered a good example of the type. 



