LYCASTES, SOBRALIAS, AND ANGULOAS i6i 



after another. But then all is over till next year. And the 

 plants are big, occupying much room. Therefore Sobralias 

 are not favoured by the wise, when space is limited. 



All are American, growing among the rocks and in the 

 scanty soil of mountain districts. One reads of species so 

 tall that a man on horseback must raise his arm to pick the 

 flowers. This may be an exaggeration, but we have Sobralia 

 macrantha gigas here six feet high, and Hookerae even 

 topping it. Upon the other hand, that marvel, Kienastiana, 

 has a very modest stature. Nearly all the species known 

 are here — it is not a large genus : Lindeni, Hookerae, Lowii, 

 macrantha and macrantha alba, xantholeuca, and Kienastiana, 

 which has its story. 



Measuresiana is uncommon ; white, an immense flower. 

 The vast lip, circular, daintily crumpled, is palest pink, 

 with a deep yellow throat, round which the pink darkens to 

 pale crimson. Sanderae also is white, faintly tinged with 

 yellow. 



In these days, however, it is the hybrids which interest 

 us, and there are two of surpassing merit. 



Amesiana (xantholeuca x Wilsonii). — Palest rosy lilac, 

 somewhat more rosy in the centre — the crumpled pink lip 

 is as round and as big as a crown piece. The cavity of 

 the throat, orange, changes to gamboge as it widens ; 

 encircling this is a stain of tawny crimson. Lip rose, shaded 

 with reddish brown. 



Veitchii (macrantha x xantholeuca). — White, with a 

 pretty orange throat. Round the edges of the lip, deliciously 

 frilled and crumpled, is a broad band of purplish pink. 



Here and there in this house, as room can be made, 

 stand many fine plants of Laelia elegans. Beyond is a second 

 compartment devoted to Lycastes and Selenepeds, the name 

 granted, for distinction's sake, to Transatlantic forms of 

 Cypripedium ; in the gardener's point of view, however, 



M 



