272 ORCHIDS. 
understood. Naturally, it grows on the banks of the River 
Congo, in shallow pools and marshy places; in the dry 
season, however, the soil becomes parched, and it receives 
a thorough baking. From this we may infer that during 
activity the plants should be given the moistest, hottest 
position in the stove—the soil being kept saturated. As 
growth ceases, water must be given more and more 
sparingly, always remembering to proportion the length of 
the resting period to the vigour of the plants and their 
growth during the previous season. 
L. giganteus.—This remarkable and beautiful plant is 
one of the giants of the Orchid family. Travellers state 
that in its native country its leaves reach a length of 8ft., 
and its flower-spikes a height of 16ft. The first plant that 
flowered in England was in the possession of Sir Trevor 
Lawrence. The leaves of this plant were plaited, about 4ft. 
long by 4in. wide, and pointed at the tips. The flower- 
spike was 8ft. 8in. high, and towards the top about fifteen 
flowers were somewhat loosely arranged. The flowers are 
from 3in. to 4in. across; the greenish sepals are strap- 
shaped, and curl back towards the ovary; the petals, 
which are broadly oblong, and over rtin. in diameter, 
form a kind of hood over the lip, and are of a_pinkish- 
rose colour. The lip is 3in. long, trowel-shaped in front, 
narrowing at the base into a pointed spur, which stands 
out behind the rest of the flower; it is purple, striped 
with darker lines, and marked on the centre with three 
yellow lines. This species was discovered by Dr. Wel- 
witzsch, in 1866, on the banks of the River Congo; it 
first flowered under cultivation in May, 1888. 
Gardeners’ Chronicle, ili. (1888), fig. 83. 
L. Horsfallii—A very fine species, of stately habit, 
with plaited, lance-shaped leaves, 2ft. to 3ft. in length, 
