CHAPTER XXI. Orchid Hybrids

ORCHID HYBRIDS

It is impossible to enumerate the immense number of home-raised hybrids in the scope of this book. It must therefore suffice to name some of the principal genera which have been crossed, and a few of the best hybrids, from the garden point of view.

Too much cannot be said for the absorbing interest of raising hybrid Orchids, which is referred to at length on p. 67.

Brassavola Digbyana has been one of the most satisfactory parents, crossing readily with Cattleya and Laelia, and imparting to the hybrids its large flowers and fringed lip. B. glauca has also been useful. Brasso-Cattleya Digbyano-Mossiae, "Westonbirt Variety," is illustrated in Plate V.

Calanthes have been wonderfully improved, so far as the deciduous, winter-flowering kinds are concerned, by intercrossing, commencing with C. Veitchii (rosea x vestita) and now including all shades from pure white to blood-red.

Cattleya, Laelia, Sophronitis, and Brassavola have produced by intercrossing numerous showy garden plants, some of them, as for example C. Iris (C. bicolor x C. Dowiana) and Laelio-Cattleya callistoglossa (C. Warscewiczii x L. purpurata), exhibiting great variation in the colour of their beautiful flowers.

Cymbidium has been enriched by the hybridist, the section Cyperorchis being merged in true Cymbidium. Cymbidium Lowio-eburneum is illustrated in Plate VI.

Dendrobium hybrids are among the most numerous and useful as decorative flowers.

Epidendrum has produced some satisfactory results, including E. O'Brienianum and Epiphronitis Veitchii (Sophronitis grandiflora x Epidendrum radicans).

Cypripedium has been so prolific that there are amateurs who cultivate them either exclusively or give the greater part of their accommodation to the genus and its hybrids, which may be numbered by the hundred.

Species of Masdevallia, Odontoglossum, Lycaste, Phaius, and Zygopetalum have all been intercrossed, and the number of possible combinations admits of incalculable development, especially as the crossing is not confined to the same genus. Plants of distinct genera have been crossed with each other, and in many cases the results have been unexpectedly good, as for example the pretty, scarlet Cochlioda Noezliana, which has been crossed successfully with several genera. Such facts as these seem to indicate that there are but few combinations amongst the genera of Orchideae cross-breeders may not attempt with a reasonable hope of success.

INDEX

Acanthophippium, 81

Acineta, 81

Acropera, 82

Adapting ordinary plant-house for Orchid culture, 19

Aeranthus, 83

Aerides, 82

Aganisia, 83

Angraecum, 83

Anguloa, 84

Anoectochilus, 84

Ansellia, 85

Apostasieae, 6

Arachnanthe, 85

Barkeria, 86

Bartholina, 86

Baskets and pots, culture in, 24

Batemannia and Bollea, 86, 108

Bifrenaria, 86

Bollea, 108

Brassavola, 86

Brassia, 86

Brasso-Cattleya Digbyano-Mossiae (Plate V.)

Broughtonia, 86

Bulbophyllum, 86

Calanthe, 87

Calanthe Dominyi, the first Orchid hybrid, 5, 67

Calanthes, deciduous, 38

Catasetum, 87

Cattleya, 87

Cattleya Trianae, var. Hydra (Plate IV.)

Cattleya fly, the, 48

Chysis, 88

Cirrhaea, 88

Cirrhopetalum, 88

Cochlioda, 88

Cochlioda noezliana crosses, 110

Cockroaches, how to entrap, 50

Coelia, 88

Coelogyne, 88

Colax, 91

Collecting wild Orchids, 60

Comparettia, 88

Compost for seedlings, 76-80

Conservatory, species for the, 52

Coryanthes, 91

Cut flowers, to preserve, 56

Cycnoches, 91

Cymbidium, 91

Cymbidium Lowio-eburneum (Plate VI.)

Cymbidiums for the conservatory, 54

Cynorchis, 91

Cypripedium, 91

Cypripedium insigne Sanderae (Frontispiece)

Cypripediums, structure of, 6

Cypripediums for the conservatory, 58

Cyrtopodium, 92

Dendrobium, 92

Dendrobium Wardianum (Plate III.)

Dendrobium from cuttings, 35

Diacrium, 93

Difficulties to overcome, 8

Disa, 93

Diseases and Insect Pests, 47

Dossinia marmorata, 84

Durability of Orchid flowers, 56

Enumeration of Principal Genera, 81

Epidendrum, 94

Epidendrum Boundii, 109

Epidendrum O'Brienianum, 109

Epiphronitis Veitchii, 109

Eria, 94

Eriopsis, 94

Eulophia, 94

Eulophiella, 94

Evaporation from lower stage, 15

Evaporation, test, 100

Fertilising Orchids, 68

Floor of natural earth, 9, 15

Floor of wood trellis, 9

Galeandra, 95

Genera and Species, 81

Glazing, 11

Gomeza, 94

Gongora, 95

Goodyera Dawsoniana, 85

Grammatophyllum, 95

Grobya, 95

Habenaria, 95

Haemaria discolor, 84

Heating Orchid houses, 16

Hot-water piping, 16

Houlletia, 95

Huntleya, 108

Hybridising and raising seedlings, 67

Importing of Orchids, 59

Insecticides, 48, 49

Introduction, 1

Ionopsis, 95

Label, the best form of, 31

Labelling the plants, 30

Laelia, 95

Leaves, removal of damaged, 32

Leaves, use of, in potting compost, 24, 80, 99

Leptotes, 105

Liparis, 96

Liquid manure, 43

Lissochilus, 96

Listrostachys, 83

Lueddemannia, 96

Luisia, 96

Lycaste, 96

Macodes Petola, 84

Manures for Orchids, 39

Masdevallia, 96

Maxillaria, 97

Megaclinium, 97

Metal injurious, 29

Microstylis, 97

Miltonia, 97

Miltonia vexillaria (Plate II.)

Mormodes, 98

Mystacidium, 83

Neobenthamia, 98

Nephelaphyllum, 98

Night temperatures, 17, 18

Notylia, 98

Octomeria, 98

Odontoglossum, 98

Odontoglossum crispum (Plate VIII.)

Odontoglossum, potting of, 99

Odontoglossum seedlings, 71-78

Odours of Orchids, 65

Oncidium, 100

Oncidium Marshallianum (Plate VII.)

Orchid-collecting, 108

Orchid flowers, structure of, 6

Orchid house, structure of, 9

Orchid house, the single, 19

Orchid hybrids, 108

Orchid, the first hybrid, 5

Orchids as cut flowers, 55

Orchids for baskets, 27

Orchids for the conservatory, 52

Orchids for pans, 27

Orchids for villa conservatory, 53

Orchids, suspending of, 27

Orchids, the earliest introductions of, 3, 4, 5

Osmunda fibre, 23, 80, 99

Packing, systems of, 61

Painting interior of houses, 11

Paphinia, 100

Paraffin, need for avoiding use of, 49

Paths, methods of making, 9

Periodical inspection of plants, 50

Peristeria, 103

Pescatorea, 108

Phaius, 100

Phalaenopsis, 103

Physosiphon, 103

Plant-houses adapted for Orchids, 12-19

Platyclinis, 103

Pleione, 103

Pleurothallis, 103

Potting and basketing, methods of, 22

Potting material for hybrids, 79

Potting, old-time system of, 3

Promenaea, 103, 108

Propagation by division, 35

Rain-water, the value of, 35

Raising seedling Orchids, 67

Renanthera, 103

Resting season, the, 37, 44

Restrepia, 103

Rhyncostylis, 104

Rise of Orchid culture, 3

Rockeries in Orchid house, 10

Rodriguezia, 103

Saccolabium, 104

Sarcanthus, 104

Sarcochilus, 104

Satyrium, 104

Scale insects, 49

Schomburgkia, 104

Scuticaria, 104

Seed-raising, case for, 72-75

Seed-sowing, 70

Seed-storing, 169

Seedlings, damping off, 77

Seedlings in subdued light, 78

Seedlings, affording water to, 72

Seeds, Orchid, 69

Selection of subjects for cross-fertilisation, 79

Selenipedium, 92, 104

Shading, 21

Shading of houses containing seedlings, 78

Slugs and woodlice, 50

Sobralia, 104

Sophronitis, 104

Spathoglottis, 105

Spraying the plants, 37, 72

Staging for the plants, 12

Staking or fixing plants, 28

Stanhopea, 105

Stauropsis, 105

Stelis, 105

Stenoglottis, 105

Structure of the flowers, 6, 67

Structure of Orchid house, 9

Syringing, the need for, 37

Tanks for storing water, 9

Tar, injurious effects of, 51

Tetramicra, 105

Temperatures, 17-20

Terrestrial species, packing of, 62

Thrips, destructiveness of, 48

Thunia, 105

Treatment of imported plants, 63

Trichocentrum, 105

Trichopilia, 105

Trichosma, 106

Trigonidium, 106

Useless leaves and pseudo-bulbs, removal of, 31

Vanda, 106

Vanda Batemanii, 105

Ventilation, 9

Warscewiczella, 108

Watering epiphytal species, 35

Watering terrestrial species, 38

Wire injurious to the plants, 29

Zygopetalum, 107

Zygopetalum, sections of, 108

THE END

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