D. nobile Cooksoni was the fons et origo of an unpleasant misunderstanding.  It turned up in the collection of Mr. Lange, distinguished by a reversal of the ordinary scheme of colour.  There is actually no end to the delightful vagaries of these plants.  If people only knew what interest and pleasing excitement attends the inflorescence of an imported orchid—­one, that is, which has not bloomed before in Europe—­they would crowd the auction-rooms in which every strange face is marked now.  There are books enough to inform them, certainly; but who reads an Orchid Book?  Even the enthusiast only consults it.

Dendrobium nobile Cooksoni, then, has white tips to petal and sepal; the crimson spot keeps its place; and the inside of the flower is deep red—­an inversion of the usual colouring.  Mr. Lange could scarcely fail to observe this peculiarity, but he seems to have thought little of it.  Mr. Cookson, paying him a visit, was struck, however—­as well he might be—­and expressed a wish to have the plant.  So the two distinguished amateurs made an exchange.  Mr. Cookson sent a flower at once to Professor Reichenbach, who, delighted and enthusiastic, registered it upon the spot under the name of the gentleman from whom he received it.  Mr. Lange protested warmly, demanding that his discovery should be called, after his residence, Heathfieldsayeanum.  But Professor Reichenbach drily refused to consider personal questions; and really, seeing how short is life, and how long Dendrobium nobile Heathfield, &c., true philanthropists will hold him justified.

We may expect wondrous Dendrobes from New Guinea.  Some fine species have already arrived, and others have been sent in the dried inflorescence.  Of D. phaloenopsis Schroederi I have spoken elsewhere.  There is D.  Goldiei; a variety of D. superbiens—­but much larger.  There is D.  Albertesii, snow-white; D.  Broomfieldianum, curiously like Loelia anceps alba in its flower—­which is to say that it must be the loveliest of all Dendrobes.  But this species has a further charm, almost incredible.  The lip in some varieties is washed with lavender blue, in some with crimson!  Another is nearly related to D. bigibbum, but much larger, with sepals more acute.  Its hue is a glorious rosy-purple, deepening on the lip, the side lobes of which curl over and meet, forming a cylindrical tube, while the middle lobe, prolonged, stands out at right angles, veined with very dark purple; this has just been named D.  Statterianum.  It has upon the disc an elevated, hairy crest, like D. bigibbum, but instead of being white as always, more or less, in that instance, the crest of the new species is dark purple.  I have been particular in describing this noble flower, because very, very few have beheld it.  Those who live will see marvels when the Dutch and German portions of New Guinea are explored.