266 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



[September, 1912 



CymBIUIUM pendulum. — This summer- 

 flowering species is not often seen in present 

 day collections. A plant m the possession 

 of the Rev. J. C. B. Fletcher, Mundham 

 Vicarage, Chichester, has recently produced a 

 spike with no less than 40 well developed 

 flowers. The white flowering Aerides virens 

 Sandera? and Epidendrum prismatocarpum 

 with 23 spikes are two other Orchids in this 

 collection that have produced floriferous 

 results during the last few weeks. 



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CypripediujM Franchetii. — A recent 

 issue of Horliciiltiirc contains a photographic 

 illustration of this new introduction from the 

 Thibetan borderland where it was discovered 

 by Mr. E. H. Wilson when on an expedition 

 for the Arnold Arboretum during the year 

 igio. This species, which was named in 

 honour of the distinguished French botanist, 

 the late M. A. Franchet, in a general way 

 resembles the Siberian C. macranthum, but 

 differs chiefly in its more hairy foliage and 

 other details. Mr. Wilson states that it is a 

 native of uplanci regions and requires a 

 moist, shady situation and a compost rich in 

 decaying leaves. 



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The Fertilisation of Orchids by 

 Insects. — M. Fehk Plateau occupied himself, 

 several years ago, by studying the fertilisation 

 of flowers by insects, and more especially by 

 the way insects are attracted by the flowers. 

 His experiences, which he communicated to 

 the Royal Academy of Belgium, lead him to 

 adopt the following conclusions : — The form 

 of the flower or inflorescence has no influence, 

 or, at any rate, a very secondary influence, with 

 regard to the attraction of insects by plants. 

 Nothing proves that insects distinguish colours 

 in the same way as the human eye. The 

 sense of smelling is often extremely developed 

 in certain animals. Many of them are almost 

 entirely guided by this sen.se in their search 

 for food, and they perceive smells which do 

 not affect the human olfactory organ. Neither 

 the form nor the bright colours of the flowers 



seem to have any influence whatever on 

 insects ; they visit the inflorescences which are 

 not mutilated, but which are hidden by green 

 leaves. So that insects do not seek flowers 

 for the form and coloration our eyes appre- 

 ciate, but appear to be guided towards them 

 by some other sense than that of seeing. 



U |S -SI 



Ophrys ARANIFERA. — This species pos- 

 sesses a broad lip marked with various shades 

 of brown, from which a fancied resemblance 

 to a spider is obtained. The flower has been 

 made emblematical of adroitness or skilful- 

 ness, in allusion to the insect it resembles. 



"The spider's touch, how exquisitely fine! 

 Feels at each thread, and lives along the 

 line." 



This species is very similar to O. apifera, 

 but differs in not having the anther beak 

 hooked, and in flowering during the months 

 of April and May, whereas O. apifera usually 

 produces its flower stems m July. Cultiva- 

 tion is by no means difficult, the plants 

 generally giving good results when planted in 

 a rather dry elevated position of the rock- 

 work, and where the soil consists of gravelly 

 loam with a slight addition of chalk. Many 

 of these interesting little gems will amply 

 repay one for careful cultivation. 



^i? i^Jf 



Orchidaceous Plants. — In these, beyond 

 the striking nature of their habits, which are 

 not much regarded, it is the extraordinary size, 

 loveliness, variegation of hue, outline, confor- 

 mation, and fragrance of their flowers, which 

 prove so enchanting to their admirers ; and 

 the endless multii)licity of all those traits, 

 their singular versatilit\- m the same species, 

 the strange associations, contrasts, and varie- 

 ties which they sometimes present, with the 

 seeming boundlessness of the stores of novelty 

 yet lying hidden in the recesses and forests 

 of a large division of the globe, but inviting 

 to be opened up and rifled by European 

 research ; compose the throng of considera- 

 tions that has obtained for them the favour to 

 which they have lately been advanced. — 

 Faxtons Botany, 1840. 



