288 THE PRINCIPLES OF FLORICULTURE 



come from the base of the bulb. The flowers have good 

 keeping qualities and are excellent for cut-flowers. 



Habitat. South America, Mexico and the West 

 Indies. 



387. Culture of lycastes. For culture, they all require 

 about the same temperature as cattleyas. During the 

 winter, this should be from 50 to 55 at night, with a 

 day temperature of from 60 to 65. In summer they 

 should be kept as cool as possible. A cool section of the 

 cattleya house will suit them splendidly. 



388. Odontoglossum, botanical classification. (Name 

 from Greek, tooth-tongue, referring to the crest on the 

 labellum.) Closely related to Oncidium. Species, about 

 100. The most important are : crispum; grande; cit- 

 rosmum; luteo-purpureum; nobile. 



Habitat. Odontoglossums inhabit mountainous sec- 

 tions in southern Mexico and south to Peru. They 

 grow at high altitudes in extremely moist atmospheric 

 conditions, with a low temperature throughout the 

 year. 



389. Culture of odontoglossums. This group varies 

 much in temperature and moisture requirements. With 

 the exception of 0. citrosmum they should have abundant 

 ventilation, with a temperature from 55 to 60. The 

 temperature requirements for 0. citrosmum are about 10 

 higher. All species like a cool moist temperature during 

 the summer. They are grown in baskets or pots. They 

 should be repotted in October and November, but never 

 in, summer. For this potting, use a mixture of equal 

 parts of peat, osmunda fiber and live sphagnum moss. 



390. Oncidium, botanical classification. (Name from 

 Greek, a tubercle, referring to the crest on the labellum'.) 

 Species about 300 ; the most common ones being : 



