82 LYCASTE. 



later it was introduced into British gardens by Messrs. Sander and Co. 

 through Chesterton, and it flowered for the first time in this country 

 in the collection of Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., at Burford Lodge, 

 in the summer of 1880. About the same time we received a small 

 consignment through Kalbreyer. Neither of these collectors divulged 

 its precise habitat; it is reported to be a rare plant, confined to 

 a small area, and growing upon high trees in dense shade. 



LYCASTE. 



Lincll. in Bot. Eeg. 1843, misc. p. 14. Benth. et Hook. Gen. Plant. III. p. 547. 

 Lycaste, a very natural genus not often confused with any other, 

 includes about twenty-five species ; but with one notable exception 

 {Lycasie Skinneri) not many of them have hitherto found much 

 favour with cultivators of orchids. This want of appreciation has 

 probably arisen from the fact that the flowers of many of the species, 

 although of large size and even of stately aspect, are often of 

 homely or pallid colours that fail to attract favour. But among 

 those species with smaller flowers there are some that possess 

 pleasing although by no means brilliant colours, and in addition, 

 some of them have a pleasant fragrance ; they are thence represented 

 iu many collections. It may be observed, as a fair index of the 

 favour accorded to the Lycastes, that very few of them, with the 

 exception of L. Skinner!, have been figured in the horticultural 

 serials devoted to the illustrations of orchids. 



The essential characters of the genus may be thus formulated : — 

 The sepals are sub-equal and spreading, the lateral two aduate at 

 their base to the foot of the column, and forming with it a short 

 mentum or chin. 



The petals are similar to the sepals in shape, but often much smaller 

 and parallel with the column, rarely spreading. 



The Up is affixed to the foot of the column ; it is either sessile or 

 shortly clawed, three-lobed, with the lateral lobes erect and the terminal 

 one reflexed, and ciliolate or fimbriate at the margin, but sometimes 

 entire ; on the disk between the side lobes is a fleshy, grooved plate.* 



* The form and size of this phxte affords in several instances a £;ood character for the 

 determination of the species ; — thus, in Lycadc Lingnclla it is excessively developed, 

 forming a semi-cylindric tube ; iu L. lasioglossa it is reduced to a small tongue-shaped 

 callosity ; while in L, Skinneri it is well-nigh intermediate between those twQ. 



