co 
eon 
fac} 
US 
series at the upper part, and the front lobe citron yellow; the latter is somewhat 
reflexed, ovate with rounded tip, as in the lateral lobes, and somewhat wavy- 
crisped edges ; externally, the disk bears at its base a broad and deep depression. 
The column, 2 cm. long, is nearly straight, lemon-yellow at its upper part, 
passing into purple below, nearly black in front at the base; the whole front 
part is very villose, especially near the foot, which is rather short. The opercule 
of the anther is very convex, very finely papillose, unilocular, of a somewhat 
yellowish white. The rather large pollinia are provided with a slender and 
elongated pedicel, and bear all the other usual characters of Lycaste. 
Some persons have showed themselves unwilling to admit the above paren- 
tage of this hybrid and especially the influence of Maxillaria nigrescens, and 
designated Lycaste Skinneri and L. cruenta as the probable parents. The plant 
has undoubtedly maintained absolutely all the characters of the genus Lycaste, in 
the vegetative organs as well as in its floral structure, and bears some resem~ 
blance to L. cruenta in more than one part. Is there one person, however, 
who may boast to know at present all the mysteries of hybridization, and who 
could say what surprises we are to encounter in the future? 
In order to be more acquainted with the origin of the L. Imschootzana, 
we asked M. Van Imscuoor himself for information, and he kindly wrote to 
us the following : — 
« About the Lycaste Imschootiana, I made but one hybridization of Lycaste 
at the beginning of 1889, viz. L. Shinneri fertilized with the pollinia of Maxillaria 
nigrescens. 1 can therefore positively assert that the M. nigrescens is the pollen- 
parent, although there is scarcely one distinct character of this species in the 
hybrid, but perhaps in the lip. 
I obtained five or six plants of the seeds; the first flowered and the more 
robust you have received; two or three of the others will probably flower 
next year about at the same time, i. e. December-January, as they begin to push 
a new growth. ” 
So long, therefore, as we have no proof of the contrary, in other words, 
so long as there exists no identical plant obtained from other 7 
not allowed to call in question ne a categorical ee oe 
In all cases, a fact is beyond doubt, viz., that the L. Imschootiana is a 
plant of superior merit. All the horticultural periodicals have mentioned its 
appearence, and several of them have given a figure of it. True it is that it 
obtained but an Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society of London, 
but the OrcuipEENnE, of Brussels, awarded to it a First-class Diploma of Honour 
unanimously and by acclamation. 
A. Coaniaux. 
omuy mt | 
ue 
oan | 
