LYCASTE PLANA MEASURE SIAN A 



[Plate 306.] 



Jfative of Bolivia. 



Ej)ipliytal. Pseudobulbs oblong-obtuse, slightly angular, some three inches high, 

 intense deep green, bearing on tlieir summit two or three very large leaves, which 

 are oblong-lanceolate and acuminate, much plaited, about eighteen inches long, and 

 two-and-a-half inches across, deej) green on both surfaces. Peduncle radical, green, 

 furnished with numerous large lanceolate, sheathing, brown bracts, the upper one 

 enclosing the ovary, much the largest and cucullate, bearing a single flower on the 

 apex. Flowers spreading, three or four inches in diameter; sepals oblong-acute, 

 connate at the base, spreading, of a reddish bronze, tipped with green; petals 



similar in shape to the sepals but shorter, with smooth edges, projecting forward 

 and forming a hood over the column, recurved at the tips, white, profusely 



ornamented with bright rose-coloured spots and dots, which are disposed in regular 

 lines, leaving a clear white marginal border; lip small, trilobed, lateral lobes slightly 

 crenate, middle lobe ovate, serrulate, recurved at the tip, white, thickly studded all 

 over with bright rose-coloured dots ; callus obtuse, slightly raised and somewhat 

 three-lobed. Column pubescent, white. 



Lycaste plana, Lincll., Botanical Register, 1842, misc. 96; Id., 1843, 

 t. 35, et misc. p, 15; Orchid Album, v., t. 230; Williams, Orchid-Grower* s Manual, 

 6 ed., p. 380. 



Lycaste plana Measueesiana, Williams, supra. 



A few years back the number of species of Lycaste existing in our collections 

 was very small ; now, however, these conditions are changed, several new species and 

 varieties having been introduced by our collectors, and many beautiful forms now grace 

 our plant houses, and we are glad to observe that Lycastes are rapidly increasing 

 in favour with Orchid cultivators. The variety now under consideration is at once 

 SO distinct and beautiful in itself, that it will doubtless tend to create an increased 

 taste and love for the various beautiful forms with which this genus abounds. 



Lycaste plana Measitresiana produces a considerable number of blossoms from a 



& 



bulb ; and, as will be seen by the drawing, it has most lovely spotted flow 



and is distinct from, and much superior to the typical L. plana^ characters which 

 should render it popular, and ensure it a place in every collection of Orchids. 



Another beautifully spotted variety of Lycaste — L. Deppei punctatissima — we 

 have also figured in our sixth volume, plate 262; this is very rare, and we believe 



it onlv exists in one collection, that of Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., at Burford 



Lodo-e, Dorkino", and it was from this plant that our figure of that variety was take 



