9° 



THR ORCfllD WORLD. 



[January, 1914. 



dwindles until death results. This, unfortu- 

 nately, is only too true with Odontocidiums, 

 llmusands of seeds have been sown, and an 

 almost equal number of tiny plants have died. 



Although the two Odontoglossums pre- 

 viously mentioned, cirrhosum and Edwardii, 

 are both natives of Ecuador, there appears 

 good reason to believe that their Colombian 

 relations will also prove suitable for 

 mating- with the Oncidiums, the latter 

 including species from Brazil, Peru, Colombia, 

 and adjoining countries. 



There are many Oncidium species that are 

 very similar to the Odontoglossums, such as 

 On. crispum and On. Forbesii, and there 

 appears to be little doubt that before long we 

 shall see flowering hybrids resulting from 

 their intercrossing. Perhaps the most pleasing 

 and interesting would be a hybrid between 

 the two crispums. Those students of nomen- 

 clature who like to see the parental names 

 represented in the name of the offspring will 

 be well satisfied if the hybrid is christened 

 Odontocidjum crispum. May this be so. 



Probably the most popular Oncidiums are 

 those with the bright yellow flowers. These 

 species seem so characteristic of the genus, 

 and make a clear dividing line of separation 

 from the Odontoglossums, in which yellow is 

 a very scarce colour, that one wonders what 

 influence they will have. The majority of the 

 yellow-flowering Oncidiums have extremely 

 large labellums ; in fact, this segment of the 

 flower is the chief point of attraction, for the 

 other segments have dwindled to such a small 

 state that one would not be surprised if they 

 become smaller and smaller, or are eventually 

 entirely suppressed, just in the same way 

 that the petals of most Masdevallias are 

 nearly invisible. There is much uncertainty 

 regarding the most suitable Odontoglossums 

 to work with. The Mexican maculatum and 

 cordatum, as well as nebulosum, must be 

 considered, and so, also, the many-flowered 

 species, such as Edwardii and Lindenii. A 

 vast field is open to all who are fond of 

 experimental work, and although many 

 failures will surely be encountered, a few 

 successful results will amply balance the 

 scales. 



NEW ORCHIDS. 



RECENT issue of the Knv Biillciin 

 contains the 41st decade of New 

 ■ Orchids, with botanical descriptions. 



The following species are enumerated: — 



Megaclinium ugandae, from Tropical Africa. 

 The plant was sent by Mr. J. O'Brien to the 

 Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, where it 

 flowered, March, 191 2. The rachis is heavily 

 dotted and marbled with purple-brown on a 

 light green ground. The sepals and petals 

 are light green, the lip dull purple, and the 

 column whitish-green with numerous purple 

 dots. 



Eulophia Watkinsonii, from South Africa. 

 The specimen which flowered at Kew, 

 February, 191 3, was sent by Mr. H Wat- 

 kinson, of the Transvaal Forest Department, 

 and has bright yellow flowers with a little 

 brown outside the sepals. Allied to E. hians. 



Eulophia Uganda?, from Tropical Africa. 

 First flowered in the collection of Sir Trevor 

 Lawrence, March, 191 3, the plant having been 

 sent by Mr. E. Brown, who also sent dried 

 material to Kew. " The climbing habit is 

 remarkable, the new bulbs being regularly 

 produced from above the base of the old one, 

 and sending down a strong root, thus recalling 

 a mangrove in habit." 



Lissochilus uliginosus, from Tropical Africa, 

 where it grows in grassy fresh-water swamps 

 m savannah forest. 



Polystachya coriacea, from British Central 

 Africa. Flowered in the collection of Mr. 

 James Bush, Bryn Asaph, Romilly Road, 

 Cardiff, in March, 191 3. It produces flowers 

 of a deep yellow colour. 



Xylobium elatum, from Peru. Introduced 

 by Messrs. Sander and Sons, by whom it was 

 flowered. May, 191 3. The plant has a tall 

 habit, with large leaves, and the scape three 

 feet in height. The flowers are dull pale 

 green, heavily marbled with brown on the 

 back of the segments; the prominent tubercles 

 on the lip are dark brown. 



Xylobium ecuadorense, from Ecuador. Sent 

 to Kew by Mrs. Lipscomb, who received it 

 from Ecuador in 191 1. The flowers are 

 uniformly light yellow in colour. 



