24 
stripes down the centre. The column is pale whitish-yellow, speckled ail over 
with light purple-brown. 
The genus is a very remarkable one, and the generic name applied by Lindley 
is by no means so fanciful an one as might be supposed. Whether the flowers 
resemble goblins, or otherwise, may be an open question, and may.be left for 
those better versed in the physiognomy of these mythical beings to décidé. At ail 
events their appearance is exceedingly grotesque, and it is interesting to note that 
their singular structure is essentially connected with the fertilisation of the ovules. 
The column is invariably bent downwards with a partial twist, and the lip twisted 
upwards to meet it, its apex being perched exactly on the tip of the anther-case. 
When an insect visits the flower the anther-case is ruptured, by means of a small 
portion of sensitive tissue, and the elastic pollinia is ejected, and firmly attached 
to the insect, which on visiting another flower brings the pollen in contact with 
the stigma, and thus effects fertilisation. One other curious character remains to 
be mentioned : the flowers are borne in a more or less distichous raceme, those 
on one side having the column and lip twisted one way, while those on the other 
side are invariably twisted in the opposite direction. 
Nor is singularity of structure the only feature of the genus. A few of the 
species, at least, are decidedly handsome. M. luxatum and its variety eburneum 
are both very fine. One of the latter is recorded from Sir Trevor Lawrence’s 
collection, bearing a majestic peduncle nearly 3 feet high, with 25 large ivory- 
white sweetly-scented flowers, and a curiously shell-shaped lip. M. Uncia (syn. 
M . Greenii) has large flowers with broad segments spotted with dark brown on 
a light yellow ground. M. igneum has crimson flowers, while M. atropurpureum and 
M. Hookeri are both dark purple. M. Ocanae and M. pardinum hâve both handsome 
spotted flowers, while the variety unicolor of the latter is of a bright canary-yellow, 
the raceme being very effective. M. colossus is the giant of the genus, while 
M. buccinator is the most polymorphie and polychromie Orchid in existence, 
according to Reichenbach. 
Yet Mormodes are not very popular in gardens. One reason is that they are 
very diffîcult to cultivate successfully for any length of time. Like Catasetums, 
they do not get through the resting period as well as could be wished. Nor do 
they produce such a mass of flowers nor last so long as many of the more popular 
Orchids. Nevertheless the species are worthy of more attention than is generally 
accorded to them. If some one would devote a small house to the three interesting 
and allied généra, Catasetum , Cycnoches , and Mormodes , where their wants could 
be attended to throughout the year, it is probable that more success would be 
attained than in a mixed collection. Their grotesque forms, sportive habits, and 
élégant combinations of colour would amply repay a little extra attention. 
R. A. Rolfe. 
