3 
the latter, proceeding rapidly, produced abundance of good 
seed. Such has been the invariable result of six years expe- 
riments, but we have failed in all attempts to mix Hippeastrum 
with the nearly allied Habranthus or Zephyranthes. In the 
form of its seed and capsule it has some affinity to Gladiolus. 
I tried 30 years ago vainly to impregnate G. blandus by H. 
crocatum. Can any person recognize the above, as the roots 
of any known plant ? or has Mr. Plant bred an anomalous 
monster between the two natural orders Amaryllidacese and 
Iridacese, though all other persons have as yet failed in 
obtaining any mule vegetable between two genera decidedly 
distinct in one and the same order ? I do not think disease 
could have produced such Gladiolus roots. Mr. Plant tried 
to make a like cross last year by the Hippeastrum on a hybrid 
Gladiolus, and he has sent me a bulb which is its produce, 
and two seedlings from another pod not crossed by him on 
the same Gladiolus stem ; but it is evident, that these bulbs 
are all true Gladioli, though the two pods have been evi- 
dently set by the pollen of two different species or varieties 
of Gladiolus, which the bees might effect without his privity. 
Mr. Plant pays a great deal of attention to the state of the 
stigma and pollen, but I cannot find that he has done so 
more than I have done during the last thirty years, when I was 
desirous of obtaining a difficult cross. Every encouragement 
should be given by cultivators to Mr. Plant, who would 
perhaps effect much by industry and perseverance, if his 
means were equal to his zeal.” 
W. Herbert , Spofforth, Oct. 1842. 
1. CATASETUM Wailesii. 
Hooker in Botanical Magazine , t. 3937* 
C. Wailesii; “ foliis oblongo-lanceolatis, perianthiis ovatis corapressis con- 
niventibus, sepalis petalisque acuminatis, labello subconico cucullato ore 
contracto integerrimo, antheris hemisphserico-compressis umbonatis 
umbone subtus squamifero.” 
This is a green-flowered species from Honduras, with all 
the appearance of C. tridentatum; Sir W. Hooker, however, 
assigns the following reasons for regarding it as a distinct 
species. 
“ The strange forms exhibited in the different parts of the 
