952 



LYCASTE 



LYCASTE 



are very distinct from each other and do not fall readily 

 into natural groups. This was probably the cause of 

 Reichenbach's complaint that "it is nearly as satisfac- 

 tory to study this group as it is to brush hedgehogs." 

 The arrangement in the key is purely artificial, and does 

 not indicate close relationship among the species grouped 

 together. HEINRICH HASSELBRING. 



The genus Lycaste is closely allied to Maxillaria and 

 has a similar geographical 1'ange, being found from 

 Mexico and the West Indies to Peru and southeastern 

 Brazil. Notwithstanding this wide distribution, how- 

 ever, they readily subject themselves to one general 

 mode of treatment, and may be grown in a bright, cool 

 portion of the Cattleya or warm end of the Odontoglos- 

 sum department, where they should receive plenty of 

 indirect solar light, moisture and sufficient ventilation 

 to ensure an active atmosphere. 



During winter, the night temperature should range 

 from 50 to 55 Fahr., and that of the day 60 to 65, or a 

 few degrees higher, with sun heat and ventilation. In 

 summer, the air should be as cool as possible, and con- 

 tain plenty of moisture. 



When Lycastes are growing they need a good supply 

 of water at the roots, and should never be allowed to 

 remain dry for a long time, even when at rest. Light 

 syringing overhead is beneficial at all times in bright 

 weather when air can be admitted. The deciduous spe- 

 cies, however, must be carefully watered when at rest, 

 for it must be remembered that in casting their foliage 

 they lose most of their active radiating surface, thus 

 reducing evaporation to a minimum. 



For special treatment, they may be divided into three 

 groups, L. aromatica, L. costata and L. Harrisonce form- 

 ing good types. The L. aromatica section embraces 

 besides the type L. Candida, L. cruenta, 2j. Deppii, L. 

 lasioglossum, L. macrobulbon and kindred sorts, all 

 more or less deciduous. These grow best in pots in a 

 mixture of equal parts chopped peat fiber and sphagnum 

 moss, with a small quantity of leaf -mold added. About 

 one-third of the pot space should be devoted to drainage 

 of broken charcoal or potsherds, and the compost must 

 be carefully and rather firmly pressed in about the roots, 

 leaving the base of the pseudobulbs on a level with or a 

 little below the rim of the pot. The best time for trans- 

 planting is just after the plants start into new growth, 

 at which time give a more abundant supply of water. 



The L. costata group includes, besides the type, such 

 species as L. lanipes, L. locusta and L. Skinneri, which, 

 excepting the last, are but semi-deciduous, large-grow- 

 ing species. They succeed best under pot culture, and 

 should be grown in a compost of about equal parts 

 chopped sod, from which some of the fine soil has been 

 removed, and decomposed leaves, adding a little chopped 

 live sphagnum to keep the soil porous and to retain mois- 

 ture. The compost should become nearly dry occasion- 

 ally to prevent it from becoming sour. 



The L. Harrisonce section is small; the type and L. 

 tetragona are good examples ; all are sempervirent and 

 grow best under basket culture in porous material con- 

 sisting of chopped peat-fiber and live sphagnum, well 

 mixed and interspersed with nodules of charcoal. The 

 compost should be pressed in moderately firm about the 

 roots to keep the plant steady, and newly imported 

 pieces should be held in place by copper or brass wire 

 crossed between the pseudobulbs. 



_ Lycaste stock is usually supplied by new importa- 

 tions, but plants may be increased by cutting through 

 the rhizome between the pseudobulbs, two at least being 



left to each piece. 



ROBERT M. GREY. 



alba, 10, 14, 16. 

 albo-sanguinea, 10. 

 aromatica, 13, 14. 

 Barringtonioe, 8. 

 Bifrenaria, 16, 17. 

 Candida, 7, 10. 

 Colax jugosus, 1. 

 citrina, 16. 

 costata, 8. 

 cruenta, 13. 

 delicatissima, 10. 

 Deppii, 15. 



INDEX. 



eburnea, 16. 

 gigantea, 3 . 

 grandiflora, 10. 

 Harrisoniae, 16. 

 inodora, 17. 

 jugnsa, 1. 

 lanipes, 5. 

 lasioglossa, 2. 

 Lawrenceana, 7. 

 loeusta, 6. 

 macrobulbon, 9. 



Maxillaria, 9, 10, 12. 



13, 15, 16. 

 Measuresiana, 11. 

 plana, 11. 

 punctatissima, 15. 

 purpurata, 10. 

 rosea, 10. 

 rubra, 7. 

 Schilleriana, 4. 

 Skinneri, 10. 

 superba, 10. 

 tetragona, 12. 



L. cmtata=Paphinia cristata. L. Harrisiana is probably an 

 error for L. Harrisonise. 



Scape originating in the axil of a leaf 

 above the new leafy axis: labellum 

 ivith transverse furrows. ( Colax. ) . 1. jugosa 

 Scape originating in the axil of a 

 leaf below the young leafy axis: 

 labellum usually with longitudi- 

 nal crests or callosities. 

 B. Pollinia seated on a common 



stipe. 



C. Scape erect or siiberect, nor- 

 mally l-fld. (Lycaste.) 

 D. Middle lobe of the labellum 

 semi-oblong, rounded, etc., 

 iisually obtuse or truncate. 

 E. Pilose, with long hairs.. 2. lasioglossa 

 EE. Smooth or pubescent. 

 F. Sepals oblong-lanceo- 

 late, spreading 3 



4 

 5 

 6 

 7, 



gigantea 



Schilleriana 



lanipes 



locusta 



Candida 



costata 



macrobull 



9. 



FF. Sepals oblong-ovate, 

 spreading or half - 

 spreading 10. Skinneri 



11. plana 



12. tetragona 



13. cruenta 

 DD. Middle lobe of the labellum 



spatulate 14. aromatica 



DDD. Middle lobe ovate-acumi- 

 nate 15. Deppii 



cc. Scape pendulous, normally 



several-fid. See Paphinia. 

 BB. Po llinia seated on % distinct 



stipes. (Bifrenaria.) 16. Harrisonise 



17. inodora 



1. jugdsa, Nichols. (Colax jugbsus, LindL). Pseudo- 

 bulbs 2-3 in. long, with lanceolate-acuminate Ivs. 6-9 in. 

 in length, springing both from the apex and base: scape 

 clothed with large bracts, and bearing 2-3 fls., which 

 are subglobose when fully expanded: sepals broadly 

 oblong, obtuse, cream-colored to waxy white ; petals 

 ovate-oblong, obtuse, marked with black-purple, trans- 

 verse bands; labellum smaller, velvety and covered 

 with fleshy ridges: side lobes longitudinally streaked, 

 and middle lobe streaked and splashed with dark pur- 

 ple. Jan.-May. Brazil. B. M. 5661. Gn. 16, p. 77 and 

 49, p. 294. Fls. persistent for many weeks. 



2. Iasiogl6ssa, Reichb. f. Pseudobulbs 3 in. long, 

 ovoid, compressed: Ivs. 8-12 in. long, elliptic-lanceo- 

 late: scape l-fld.: fls. 5 in. across; sepals spreading, 

 narrowly oblong, dull brown or greenish brown; petals 

 one-third as long, erect, concave, obtuse, golden yellow; 

 labellum as long as the petals, ilso golden yellow: lat- 

 eral lobes short, obtuse; middle lobe oblong, covered 

 with long, soft hairs; callus ovate, notched. Autumn 

 and winter. Guatemala. B.M. 6251. Very odd but not 

 showy. 



3. gigantea, Lindl. Pseudobulbs often 6 in. high, 

 bearing 2-3 oblong-lanceolate Ivs. 1K-2 ft. long: scape 

 l-fld., somewhat shorter than the Ivs.: sepals ovate to 

 lanceolate, 3 in. long, rather olive-green; petals some- 

 what smaller, lanceolate, spreading, of the same color ; 

 labellum oblong-lanceolate: side lobes acute; middle 

 lobe ovate, acuminate, serrate, rich maroon bordered 

 with a narrow orange margin; crest fleshy, emarginate. 

 The fl. -stems are said to attain a height of 2 ft., with a 

 single large flower. In most of the specimens in cult, 

 the lip is abruptly rounded off. June-Aug. ; Nov., Dec. 

 Widely dispersed in Cent. Amer. B.M. 5616. B.R.31:34. 



4. Schilleriana, Reichb. f . Plant resembling L. Skin- 

 neri in habit: pseudobulbs 2-lvd. : Ivs. elongate-lanceo- 

 late, up to 2 ft. long: scape l-fld., suberect, 8 in. long : 

 sepals large, spreading, oblong-lanceolate, 4 in. long, 

 brown: petals erect, with recurved tips, small, 

 long, white, speckled with brown on the back; labellum 

 as long as the petals, white, speckled and tinged with 

 rose: side lobes small; middle lobe ovate-quadrate, 



