Occasional Notes. 391 
Polymorphic Orchids. — The following interesting 
note on a Guiana orchid has been kindly prepared for 
me by Mr. RODWAY : — 
" The fact that certain species of the genus Catasetum 
produce flowers of several different forms, has been 
known since the time of SCHOMBURGK, who found 
flowers on one plant which had been hitherto classed 
under three distinct genera. The following from the 
Gardener 's Chronicle of 06tober 27th, describes the 
latest vagary in this curious genus of Orchids. 
' Another species of Catasetum is revealing the little 
secret which some of the species, at least, seem so well 
able to keep. For a considerable time it has been 
noticed that a plant in the Kew collection was throwing 
up two quite different kinds of inflorescence, one on 
either side of the same pseudo-bulb, and this plant has 
in consequence been watched with an unusual amount 
of interest. At length the flowers expanded, so totally 
diverse both in shape and colour, that nothing short of 
their being borne by the same plant would lead one to 
suppose they had anything to do with each other. Such 
however, is the case — they are simply male and female 
flowers of the same species, and the plant forms an 
object of interest unsurpassed in the whole collection. 
It was received at Kew from Mr. F. Sander, of St. 
Albans, having been obtained by him from British 
Guiana.' 
The female flowers being similar to those of C. fuligi- 
nosum (Lindl.) the plant is described under that name." 
♦ 
Cocoanut as a Vermifuge. — In addition to the multitu- 
dinous uses to which various parts of the cocoa-nut tree 
