THE ORCHID WORLD. 



OdONTONIA FiRiMINll. -This interesting 

 bigeneric hybrid reveals the future possibihties 

 of the hybridist's work. M. Firmin Lambeau 

 made the cross with the express purpose of 

 proving the practicabihty of uniting the genera 

 Miltonia and Odontoglossum. Odontoma 

 Firmimi was exhibited at the Royal Horti- 

 cultural Society, January pth, igi2. It has a 

 large white flower, the labellum being very 

 broad at the apex and with a slight pink 

 flushing at the base. The suggested parent- 

 age was Miltonia vexillaria x Odontoglossum 

 crispum ; but as some doubt as to the correct- 

 ness of the Miltonia species was expressed by 

 members of the Orchid Committee the plant 

 was submitted to the Scientific Committee, who 

 were of opinion that probably Miltonia 

 Phalaenopsis had been used instead of M. 

 vexillaria ; but, before giving any award, they 

 desired to see other results from this or closely 

 allied crosses which would probably decide the 

 point at issue. However, M. Lambeau has 

 certainly achieved a noteworthy result, and 

 although only plain varieties were used in this 

 example, hybridists will be able to judge of the 

 beautiful results which may possibly be pro- 

 duced by crossing superb varieties, such as 

 M. vexillaria " G. D. Owen" and O. crispum 

 Lucianii. This is not the only record of the 

 two genera having been united, for M. Lair- 

 esse exhibited, June 20th, 1905, Odontonia 

 Lairesseas, obtained by crossing O. crispum 

 with M. Warscewiczii. 



U U II 



CCELOGYNE BARBATA. — We have received 

 several communications regarding the cultiva- 

 tion of this elegant species. The general 

 opinion is that it requires a temperature some- 

 what higher than the cool house, yet not so 

 warm as that usually found in many inter- 

 mediate houses, and that a good light position 

 should be selected for the plant. Mr. H. G. 

 Alexander informs us that, at Westonbirt, it 

 grows remarkably well when placed in an airy 

 position near a ventilator ; a fair amount of 

 water being given to the plant during its season 

 of active growth, but considerably less when 

 the bulbs are mature. At Gatton Park, Mr. J. 



Collier obtains considerable success by culti- 

 \ ating the plant in a cool intermediate house, 

 where it flowers well in company with other 

 Coelogyne species and hybrids, amongst 

 which may be mentioned C. Colmanii (cristata 

 X speciosa). Other growers suggest that only 

 just sufficient water should be given during 

 the winter time to prevent shrivelling, for if 

 the compost remains sodden during a short 

 spell of cold weather, or even a sudden drop of 

 temperature, black spots or rot frequently 

 manifest themselves ; more especially is this 

 the case when the plant is pushing its flower 

 buds. It IS also stated that this plant is a 

 strong grower, and greatly objects to being 

 shut up in a close over-heated sweaty atmo- 

 sphere. 



^ m 



POLYSTACHYA LUTEOLA. — This pretty 

 little green-flowered Orchid was known about 

 a hundred years ago as Dendrobium poly- 

 stachion, under which name it was beautifully 

 figured in Lindlcys Collectanea Boianica, 

 1 82 1. In 1825 it was figured m Hookers 

 Exotic Flora from a plant in the Liverpool 

 collection, to which it was sent from the East 

 Indies by Dr. Wallich. Hooker in describing 

 the species states, " Dr. Lindley has given an 

 admirable figure and description of the plant 

 in his C ollectanea Botanica ; but he had not 

 seen the pollen-masses in a perfect state. 

 Still, judging from the habit of the individual, 

 he thought that it would be desirable to divide 

 it from Dendrobium. The nature of its pollen- 

 mass is indeed quite different, and the general 

 structure of the flower is also very unlike that 

 of either Dendrobium Pierardii or D. fimbri- 

 atum ; hence, not finding that this plant would 

 agree with any genus of Orchideous plants 

 hitherto described, I have constituted a new 

 one, Polystachya, derived from the Greek for 

 ' many spikes,' in allusion to its numerous 

 spikes borne upon the same scape ; a circum- 

 stance so unusual in this family." Mr. F. C. 

 Puddle,. Scampston Hall Gardens, Rillington, 

 York, has recently .sent some cut flower spikes 

 of this Orchid, which beside ha\'ing numerous 

 flowers carry many seed pods, the species evi- 

 dently being self-fertilising. It is interesting 



