ORCHIDS. 69 
LYCASTE AROMATIC“ 
THE member of the third tribe of orchids — represented by 
Plate No. XIX.—is worthy of cultivation for its manifold green- 
ish-yellow blossoms, unique in shape, and for its spicy odor which 
the name suggests. 
It blossoms in early autumn. This specimen was from Major 
Davis's greenhouse. 
Some gardeners imagine that the Lycaste Aromatica is of the 
Same tribe as the Vanilla Aromatica, that remarkable climbing 
orchid which furnishes the rich vanilla of commerce. And although 
this relationship is quite doubtful—the article now in hand fur- 
nishes not unfit occasion to speak of its partial namesake. 
One of our best American florists describes the Vanilla as 
“a small genus of tropical climbing orchids, the most valuable of 
the whole family; not on account of its flowers, but for the com- 
mercial importance of its fruit, which is so widely and largely used 
in flavoring extracts. The best vanilla is from Mexico, but several 
other South American varieties are valued. The flowers of this 
(Mexican) species are white, striped with red, and quite insig- 
nificant. These flowers are succeeded by pods, generally growing 
to six inches long, and one fourth of an inch in diameter. The 
pods contain, besides numerous seeds, a substance which is black, 
oily, and balsamic. When recently gathered, this dark massis 
moist, and its odor is said to produce intoxication. 
“The pods are to be gathered during the last three months of 
the year, carefully dried by exposure to the sun, and, while warm, 
