276 
THE ORCHID WORLD. 
[September, 19 13. 
AN INTERESTING HYBRID. 
Epi'Lalia Australia. 
Epi-L.tLiA Australia. — The flower of 
this new hybrid, between Epidendrum cihare 
and Cattleya Trianae, is 3^ mches across the 
petals and 4 inches across the sepals. The 
back of the sepals is dark rose, but viewed from 
the front they are very pale rose. Petals 
white and considerably broadened by the 
Cattleya parent. Lip pure white with the 
edges beautiful])' fringed. The column is 
quite exposed, and there is a broad yellow 
line extending from the column for about 
half an inch down the middle of the hp. 
Where each flower springs from the stem 
there is a bract, but naturally not so pro- 
nounced as in the Epidendrum parent. The 
whole flower has a beautiful, delicate 
appearance, and I consider it a most useful 
addition, not only on account of the flower 
itself, which is distinct from any other Orchid 
I know, but also on account of its flowering 
time being mid-winter. There were only two 
flowers on the spike, but judging by the 
parentage, at least four may be expected 
when the plant is stronger. — E. Baxter Cox, 
Adelaide, South Australia. 
AN ENORMOUS ORCHID. 
THERE are not a few amateurs who 
have, from time to time, expressed 
an opinion that the continual 
collecting of Orchids must, before many more 
years elapse, cause a serious scarceness of 
many species in their native homes. Con- 
sidering the long period necessary for the 
formation of a large specimen it is quite 
evident to one and all that many districts 
have been denuded of their treasures at a far 
greater rate than Nature can keep pace with 
the demand. 
The first collector to reach a previously 
unsearched country naturally finds the 
Orchids in all their glory, just as centuries 
of time have allowed them to grow undis- 
turbed, and consequently to attain immense 
proportions. It was only the usual course 
of events for a collector to secure the largest 
pieces, which in most instances were fully 
sufficient to load his oxen or mules and also 
to form a consignment for shipment home. 
As one collector after another visited the 
district, and each gathered only the largest 
plants he could find, so the size gradually 
became less and less until, at the present 
time, we have almost forgotten the wonderful 
plants which our amateurs of years ago took 
so much pleasure in acquiring. 
We have only to go back to the year 1884 
— not a long period compared with some 
subjects, yet with Orchids sufficiently long 
to show what a great change has taken place 
- — when Messrs. Sander and Sons imported 
a marvellous specimen of Cattleya Skinneri 
from Costa Rica. This plant formed a 
symmetrically shaped and compact mass, 
measuring 7 feet in diameter, over 6 feet in 
height, and weighing 12 cwt. 
This remarkable specimen grew on a 
species of Euphorbia and was carefully 
watched by its owner, who took great pride 
in showing it to various plant collectors 
visiting Costa Rica. Among the visitors was 
the well-known Roezl, who happened to see 
the plant in full bloom, when he counted 
upwards of i,Soo fully expanded flowers on 
it at one time. 
