14 



large pieces of B. Ericsonii, the very 

 curious B. grandiflorum, and Cirrhopetalum 

 refractum, often called the Windmill Orchid 

 on account of the manner m which the flowers 

 are arranged on the spike. 



A suitable growing place has been found 

 for the pretty forms of Anrjectochilus ; the new 

 leaves are formed very rapidly when the right 

 treatment can be given. Eulophia guineensis 

 is a rarity worthy of note, the flowers are 

 large, with rose-purple sepals and petals, the 

 lip purplish-magenta. Platyclinis filiformis is 

 one of the prettiest of the small-flowering 

 Orchids ; the spikes are erect, but the upper 

 portion, covered with numerous golden 

 flowers, droops gracefully in pendulous 

 fashion. It has received the name of the 

 Golden Chain Orchid, and the specimens in 

 this collection prove that the plant is well 

 worthy of the name. 



One spacious house is almost filled with 

 Odontoglossum seedlings, the largest having 

 just reached the flowering stage. Odontiodas 

 also occupy considerable space, and include 

 many choice varieties. An interesting hybrid 

 IS Odontioda Seymoura?, obtained by crossing 

 O. Bradshawire with O. Charlesworthii ; the 

 flowers are brilliant scarlet-red, and of good 

 shape. Sophronitis seedlings comprise 

 several new crosses, beside a number of 

 selected varieties of the early hybrids. 



Messrs. Armstrong and Brown are frequent 

 exhibitors at the principal shows, and have 

 gained many valuable prizes. At the Inter- 

 national Exhibition, 191 2, they were awarded 

 the handsome cup presented by Baron Bruno 

 Schroder. A photograph of their latest 

 exhibit is reproduced in this issue. 



Vanda Lowii. — In the year 1885 there 

 was at Ferrieres a good specimen of this 

 interesting plant. It stood 6 feet in height, 

 and had 120 leaves, each about 27 inches 

 long. There were 17 flower spikes, all over 

 8 feet long, while the total number of blooms 

 was over 400, 



[October, 1913. 



CORSICAN ORCHIDS. 

 By W. HERBERT COX. 



FROM its geographical position alone the 

 most elementary student of flower 

 lore would be able to guess that 

 Corsica contains the flora of divers varying 

 districts. Its position is such that it must 

 have plants of both Europe and Africa, with 

 a distinct possibility of some Asian ones. 

 The flora of the Southern French coast differs 

 considerably from that of Northern Algeria, 

 whilst both differ from that of Tuscany ; as 

 Corsica stands between all three she naturally 

 possesses examples of the flora of each. 

 Moreover, her contours are so varied that the 

 plants must of necessity vary with them, as 

 those of the sun-baken sea coast are not 

 suited to the high mountains or the humid 

 plains by the Lagoons. 



According to John Briquet's " Prodrome de 

 la Flora Corse," some sixty-two kinds of wild 

 Orchids grow on the island, of which five are 

 extremely doubtful, and others so rare that 

 they have only been found in one or two 

 localities and in very small numbers. I 

 myself, in spite of diligent search, was only 

 able to find twenty of them, though perhaps 

 twenty is hardly correct, as I also saw an 

 Epipactis and the Twayblade, but as neither 

 were blossoming I do not count them. 



According to my invariable custom in these 

 pages, I only propose to deal with the plants 

 which I personally saw. The first to flower 

 was Orchis lactea, under the olive trees, as 

 early as February 8th. Honey scented, 

 almost milk coloured, with a lip covered with 

 purplish spots, and a hood all joined together, 

 having frequent purple lines, it is a delightful 

 thing to meet so early in the season. 



Though the number of varieties may be 

 limited, one thing may be said in favour of 

 the Orchids which do grow on the island is 

 that the number of specimens is enormous. 

 By far the commoner and perhaps the 

 most beautiful is the Pink Butterfly, O. 

 papilionacea, with its big rose-violet fan-like 

 lip, accordian pleated, and the chocolate 

 perianth. So common is it that it is called 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



