278 ORCHIDS: 
Var. grandifiora has the whole of the lip purple, except 
at the margin, which is yellowish; the spur is yellow, 
striped with purple. 
L. plana.—This is a robust and ornamental’ species, 
with large, ribbed pseudo-bulbs, and pointed, oval leaves. 
The flowers are from 3in. to 4in. across, the oblong sepals 
being of a pretty madder-red ; the petals, which are smaller, 
and recurved at the tips, are white, marked with a crimson- 
coloured blotch; the lip is still smaller, white, spotted with 
rosy crimson. This species was introduced from Bolivia 
about 1840; it flowers during the winter months. 
Botanical Register, 1843, t. 35. 
L. Skinneri.—In every way this species is certainly 
one of the most desirable of all Orchids. It is one of 
the easiest to grow, and, if treated in a proper manner, 
never fails to reward the grower with an abundance of 
flowers. Moreover, it may be purchased at a price within 
the means of all. The pseudo-bulbs are oblong, 3in. to 
5in. high, and bear two or three broadly lance-shaped, 
dark green, plaited leaves. The flowers are large and 
strikingly handsome, and we have seen a single pseudo- 
bulb produce as many as sixteen of them, each from sin. 
to 6in. in diameter. The scapes are one-flowered, and 
spring from the base of the pseudo-bulb. The flowers 
are very variable in colour; indeed, it is difficult to get 
two plants with flowers exactly alike. The oblong, 
pointed sepals are typically of a. blush-white, but in other 
forms deepen in colour to bright rose, and even to a deep 
mauve. The petals stand forward at each side of the 
column; they are about half the size of the sepals, and 
are usually of a deep rose-colour. The three-lobed lip 
is white, spotted with crimson. This species flowers from 
November to May, the blossoms lasting several weeks 
