Oct., 1892. 
THE CULTIVATION OF ORCHIDS. 
233 
between the opening of this and the column. The first bee, 
then, which is immersed will have the gland of the pollen 
mass glued to its back ; it passes out of this, and perhaps 
enters the same or another flower, when the pollen masses 
are placed directly upon the stigma incoming out as before.” 
After the pollen masses are deposited upon the stigma of an 
orchid, minute tubes are emitted as in ordinary pollen, these 
passing down the tissues of the column to the ovary, where 
they fertilize the ovules. It is strange, however, that in some 
orchids several days, weeks, or months are required for the 
tubes to perform this journey, although the distance is much 
shorter than in numbers of other flowering plants. When 
fertilization is effected the flowers at once commence fading, 
and it is curious to see flowers that would perhaps have lasted 
for several weeks show signs of decay in a few hours after the 
pollen is placed on the stigma. 
The column of an orchid flower is theoretically regarded 
as composed of four stamens and three pistils, two other 
stamens being combined with the lip, and thus explaining its 
occasional three-lobed form. The stamens are considered to 
be in two rings, the uppermost of the outer ring being 
that usually fertile, and the upper two of the inner ring- 
are those seen in Cypripedium, while the lower two of the 
outer ring are those united with the lip; the two outer of the 
stigmas are united, and the upper one forms the rostellum. 
ORCHID FLORA. 
Divided into two classes, Epiphytes—Terrestrial. These two 
classes are distributed into seven orders or tribes:— 
1. Malaxese—softness or waxy softness. 
2. Epideudreae—something growing upon trees. 
3. Vandese—Sanskrit for mistletoe or tree orchid. 
4. Ophreae—the eyebrows, referring to ancient fashion of painting 
eyebrows. 
5. Arethuseas—from name of nymph of Diana, fabled to have been 
transformed into a fountain. 
6. Neotheae—a bird’s nest. 
7. Cypripedeae—Venus’s slipper. 
MEANING OF NAMES. 
The names given to orchids have generally been designed to point 
out some particular feature of the plant, or were given on account of 
some economical use, or out of respect to the discoverer, or in compli¬ 
ment to an eminent patron. 
Dendrobium—living on a tree ; devdpov, tree ; /3tos, life. 
Masdevallia—for Don Jose Masdevall. 
Cattleya—for William Cattley. 
Cattleya Trianae—Signor Triana, a native of New Granada, and 
large collector of orchids in that province. 
Cattleya Chocoensis—native of province of Choco in the United 
States of Colombia. 
Cattleya Mossiae—South America, named after Mr. Thomas Moss, 
an early cultivator, of Liverpool. 
Laelia—Roman lady’s name, daughter of Caius Laelius, an ancient 
Roman nobleman. 
