280 ORCHIDS. 
Var. nigro-rubra has flowers over 6in. in diameter, and 
is one of the deepest-coloured forms. The sepals are 
deep mauve, the petals rich purple, and the lip rosy 
purple. 
L. tetragona.—An interesting plant, very remarkable in 
the colour of its flowers. In habit, pseudo-bulbs, and leaves, 
it is similar to the well-known L. Harrisoniz. The flowers 
also resemble those of that plant, except in colour and 
substance. Scapes short, three-flowered; sepals and petals 
broad-ovate, pointed, green, with lines and blotches of 
chestnut; lip hollow, fleshy, white, with blotches of crimson 
near the tip, outside, purple within. The flowers remain 
fresh for nearly two months, and are very fragrant. Intro- 
duced from Brazil in 1827, and flowered at Kew in 1829. 
Syn. Maxillaria tetragona. 
Botanical Magazine, t. 3146. 
L. tricolor—tThis species is at present very rare and 
little known in our gardens; it is, however, one of the 
most beautiful and floriferous of Lycastes. It has ovate, 
compressed pseudo-bulbs, about 2in. high, bearing two or 
three deep green, lance-shaped leaves. The flower-scapes, 
as in the other species, are clustered round the base of 
the pseudo-bulbs, and each bears a single flower, 3in. in 
diameter; the spreading, pale brown sepals are oblong, 
pointed, and slightly recurved; the rose-coloured petals 
are smaller than the sepals, and broader towards the apex; 
the lip is still smaller, toothed at the margin, and of a 
deep rose-colour. This species is represented at Kew by 
good-sized plants, which every year flower profusely from 
June to August. It is a native of Guatemala. 
OS et 
