NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



153 



Okra or Mallow Caterpillar (Cosmophila erosa Hubner), The Life History of. 



By H. L. Dozier {Jour. Econ. Entom. vol. x. Dec. 191 7, pp. 536-542). — This 

 insect has been known since 1882 but has not previously been considered of 

 much importance. It has, however, recently been recorded as doing serious 

 damage to Okra (Deccan Hemp), and, although, feeding mostly on Hibiscus sp., 

 has been found attacking cotton in Florida. Cosmophila should be closely 

 watched as a possible pest of cotton, as its range extends from Massachusetts 

 and Montreal to Kansas and southwards through Mexico and the Antilles to 

 South America. It also occurs in South Africa and in the Oriental and Australian 

 regions. It feeds mostly on the leaves, but also eats out the flower buds of 

 Hibiscus. The article is illustrated with two plates. — G, W. G. 



Ophryses hybrid. By R. A. Rolfe (Orch. Rev. xxvi. pp. 82-83, 102-103). — 

 An account of three artificial hybrid Ophryses raised by M. Fernand Denis, Balaruc- 

 les-Bains, France, two of which prove the parentage of natural hybrids, viz. 

 O. x Macchiattii, Camus (aranifera x speculum), and O. x quadriloba, Camus 

 (aranifera x luted). The cross O. speculum x bombyliflora is believed to be new 

 and is described as O. x Fernanda, Rolfe. Others included in the paper are 

 O. x Grampinii, Cartesi (tenthredinifera x aranifera), previously raised by M. 

 Denis, and O. xfallax, Rolfe (Grampinii x bombyliflora) . The latter is a second- 

 ary hybrid, and two others have also been raised, O. x Grampinii x speculum, 

 and O. x Grampinii x lutea. These hybrids are interesting, because they illustrate 

 what is probably taking place in nature. M. Denis has also reproduced O. arachniti- 

 formis by self-fertilization. — R. A. R. 



Orchids in Costa Rica. By C. H. Lankester (Orch. Rev. xxvi. pp. 128 and 

 256) . — Notes of Orchids in their native homes and the conditions under which 

 they grow. The author is an observer and cultivator who has had much experi- 

 ence with Central American Orchids. — R. A. i?. 



Orchids, Natural Hybrid. By R. A. Rolfe (Orch. Rev. xxvi. pp. 229-231). — 

 A summary of Dr. Lindley's remarks under the question " Do Orchidaceous 

 plants produce mules ? " It is shown that as long ago as 1797 the hybrid 

 origin of Orchis x suaveolens (now known as Gymnigritella x suaveolens, Camus) 

 was suggested by Villars. — R. A. R. 



Orchis folioso-maculata. By R. A. Rolfe (Orch. Rev. xxvi. pp. 125-126, 151). — 

 The history of a spontaneous hybrid which originally appeared in the collection 

 of Mr. C. Wolley Dod, and afterwards in that of Sir A. Buchan-Hepburn, where 

 the two species were grown together. The latter was called O. x Hepburnii Druce, 

 and it was recorded as a hybrid from O. foliosa and O. latifolio-maculata, but 

 examples of the parents from Sir A. Buchan-Hepburn show that the second 

 parent was O. maculata. — R. A. R. 



Orchis maculata superba. By R. A. Rolfe (Orch. Rev. xxvi. pp. 177-179). — 

 What has long been known as the Kilmarnock Orchis is now extensively grown, 

 and is shown to be a natural hybrid between O. latifolia and O. maculata, 

 and identical with the one known as O. x Braunii Halacsy. Numerous locali- 

 ties for it are given, and it is shown that what is known as 0. latifolia Bartoni, 

 D. Moore, is a form of the same. — R. A . R. 



Orchises, British Marsh. By R. A. Rolfe (Orch. Rev. xxvi. pp. 162-166). — 

 On the three British Marsh Orchises, O. latifolia, O. incarnata, and O. maculata, 

 and their hybrids, O. x Aschersoniana, Hausskn. (incarnata x latifolia), O. x 

 ambigua, A. Kern, (incarnata x maculata), and O. x Braunii, Halacsy (lati- 

 folia x maculata). Incidentally it is shown that the plant called O. praeter- 

 missa Druce is the Marsh Orchis with broad unspotted leaves which can be 

 traced back to 1597, when it was figured by Gerard . To this the name O. latifolia 

 is assigned, while the spotted-leaved plant often called O. latifolia is referred 

 to O. x Braunii. Details of the old figures are given. — R. A. R, 



Oreocharis Forrestii Skan. (Bot.Mag.t. 8719; July 1917.) — Gesneriaceae. 

 A native of China. A free -flowering plant, resembling Ramondia pyrenaica in 

 habit, but not yet proved to be hardy. Flowers pendulous, full yellow. — L. C. E. 



Oresitrophe rupifraga Bunge. By R. A. Rolfe (Bot. Mag. t. 8726; Sep- 

 tember 191 7). — Saxifragaceae. Native of North China. A small rock plant, 

 nearly allied to Astilbe, not yet proved hardy in this country. Flowers small, 

 white or pale rose. In autumn the leaves turn a brownish purple. — L. C. E. 



Orthrosanthus chimboracensis Baker. By C. H. Wright (Bot. Mag. t. 

 8731 - October 1917), — Iridaceae. Native of Mexico and Peru, The nearest ally 



