34 
THE ORCHID WORLD. 
[Xovcmber, 1912. 
insigne villosum 
! I 
I 
nitens Spicerianum 
I I 
I 
aureum 
insigne Spicerianum 
I I 
I 
Leeaiium villosum 
villosum Spicerianum 
Lathamianum insigne 
dellense 
It will thus be seen that we have three 
hybrids recognised as distinct and each con- 
taining the same three species, yet known 
under three different names. Now the flowers 
of primary hybrids are fairly definite and 
show little variation from the mean, or usual 
result of being intermediate in form and 
colour. With hybrids of three species the 
results are not so certain, for according to the 
specific strength of the species involved so 
will one or more prove dominant. Even more 
so will be the difference when hybridisation is 
carried to a further position. 
Cypripedium Tracyanum is obtained by 
crossing aureum with Leeanum, and " The 
Duchess " is the result of crossing aureum 
with insigne. Many other combinations of 
the three species are practicable, and the fol- 
lowing list gives those which may be obtained 
without extending our limit of the same three 
species : — ■ 
Aureum x insigne, villosum, Spicerianum, 
nitens, Leeanum, Leeander, Lathamianum, 
and dellense. 
Leeander x insigne, villosum, Spicerianum, 
nitens, aureum, Leeanum, Lathamianum, and 
dellense. 
Dellense x insigne, villosum, Spicerianum, 
nitens, aureum, Leeanum, Leeander, and 
Lathamianum. 
Therefore, in the third generation wc have 
the possibilities of no less than 24 additional 
different methods of crossing our three 
preliminary species. And with what results? 
fwenty-four hybrids theoretically composed 
of the same three species, but known under 
as many different names, giving not the 
slightest indication that any of them are 
closely related. And this is not the finality of 
the matter for each name may have one or 
more varietal words attached, and these 
hybrids may yet again be intercrossed ad 
infinitum. 
This multiplicity of identities is dealt with 
by Nature by means of her atavistic power. 
Atavism may be described as the tendency in 
offspring to return to the ancestral type. In 
every one of the previously mentioned 24 
hybrids there cannot be more than three 
species represented. A few may only show- 
signs of two, and it is withm the limits of 
possibilities that the characteristics of only a 
single species may be apparent. 
The term species is applied by botanists to 
every aggregate of individual plants which 
resemble each other in all their constant 
characters. In species, therefore, we have a 
definite standard upon which to work. 
The solution of this intricate problem of 
nomenclature may best be attained by giving 
to every hybrid inheriting the characters of 
the three species — insigne, villosum, and 
Spicerianum — the name aureum, this being 
the earliest recorded name for the first hybrid 
composed of these three species. Varietal 
names would distinguish the various forms. 
Cypripedium aureum is a hybrid known to 
contain our three selected species, and we 
should soon accustom ourselves to connect 
this name with all hybrids showing their 
characteristics. The practical result would be 
a saving of dozens of useless najnes that give 
no suggestion whatever of the plant's 
parentage. 
A register, of course, would have to be kept 
of the first name given to any combination or 
group of certain species, and all subsequent 
names comprising the same withdrawn. 
The practical working of the scheme 
appears to be simple. Suppose a committee 
of experts were asked to name a hybrid com- 
posed of our three previously mentioned 
species, they might easily recognise in it the 
