LYCASTES, SOBRALIAS, AND ANGULOAS 



occupy different compartments in one house. The first will 

 not detain us. All the species which orchidists, in a lordly 

 way, term common are represented here — of course, by their 

 best varieties. I can fancy the wonder and delight of a 

 stranger entering when the Lycastes Skinneri alba and 

 virginalis are in bloom, remembering my own emotion at 

 the spectacle elsewhere. Not many of the genus appeal 

 to the aesthetic, and Skinneri in especial lacks grace. But 

 unsymmetrical form and abrupt rigidity of growth are for- 

 gotten when those great flowers, so pure, so divinely white, 

 burst ^ upon the eye. Charming also are the pale varieties 

 of Skinneri, such as Lady Roberts, a dainty rose, the petals 

 only just dark enough to show up the labellum almost white ; 

 and Phyllis of somewhat deeper rose. Its velvety lip has 

 a crimson margin well displayed by a small white patch upon 

 the disc. 



Leucantha, dainty green with white petals, is charming ; 

 a pan of aromatica with fifty or sixty delicate golden blooms 

 makes a pretty show. But these things do not call for 

 special notice. 



There are varieties, however, of course, as the famous 

 Lycaste plana Measuresiana, coppery, shining, with pure 

 white petals, crimson spotted, and small white lip ; plana 

 lassioglossa, olive green of sepal and petal, with a bright rusty 

 stain at the base ; lip white, with conspicuous white spots. 



