76 
then on the point of returning to this country, determined to 
take one of the plants under his special protection during the 
voyage, which, flowering on the passage, seemed to preclude 
the possibility of further confusion or disappointment. The 
specimens produced at sea were exhibited, and the plant itself 
placed in the stove at Knypersley, where it commenced grow- 
ing with the utmost vigour. The season of flowering soon 
arrived, but brought with it a recurrence of the former scene 
of astonishment and vexation, for the blossoms, instead of 
those of the coveted novelty, were not distinguishable from the 
old C. ventricosum. These were still hanging to the stem 
when the inexplicable plant sent forth a spike of a totally dif- 
ferent character, and which was, in fact, precisely similar to 
the specimens gathered in Guatemala, and to those produced 
on the voyage. It is, at present, impossible to attempt any 
explanation of so strange a phenomenon, especially on the 
supposition that the two forms of flower are analogous to the 
male and female blossoms of other tribes, for C. ventricosum 
alone not unfrequently perfects seeds.” 
The plant here alluded to is a Cycnoches, which at one 
time bears large green flowers, in a short spike, with broad 
flat sepals and petals, and a convex white ovate undivided 
labellum ; and at another produces small blackish simple 
flowers in a very long drooping spike, with narrow sepals and 
petals rolled back upon the stalk, and a circular purple label- 
lum, with the edge broken up into many fingers, a lancet- 
shaped appendage at the point, and a kind of horn springing 
from the middle. These things are so totally different that, 
notwithstanding the strange sportings represented at fob 1951 
of this work, and the unquestionable authority of Mr. Bate- 
man, there were many persons, well skilled in the habits of 
Orchidacese, who felt convinced that some mistake had been 
made, and that in reality it was impossible that such totally 
different flowers could have been borne by one and the same 
plant. 
But what is impossible in nature ? 
On the 15th of September last, I received from Robert 
Steyner Holford, Esq. of Westonbirt, near Tetbury in Glouces- 
tershire, a flower-spike bearing flowers of Cycnoches ventri- 
cosum and C. Egertonianum intermixed ; it was exhibited at a 
meeting of the Horticultural Society, and I now produce a 
figure of it. The plant which bore this specimen had been 
