78 THE ORCHID REVIEW, 
LAELIA COWANT. 
ABOUT a year ago a plant was distributed by Messrs. John Cowan and Co., 
of Gateacre, near Liverpool, under the name of Lelia Cowani, which has 
since flowered in several collections, being exhibited, I believe, for the first 
time by Sir Trevor Lawrence, at the last Temple Show. The flower proved 
so similar to L. flava Lindl. that the question was raised whether it was 
not a variety of that species, and although I have since compared the plants, 
I do not yet feel sure of the correct answer. One remarkable difference 
which the novelty presents is its much elongated slender pseudobulbs, which 
attain a length of six to nine inches, while the leaves also reach a similaf 
length, both characters contrasting strongly with the short, stout bulbs and 
leaves of L. flava. See figures in the Botanical Register (1842, t. 62) and 
Orchid Album (vy. t. 226). The numerous plants seen by me agree in this 
respect, yet the flowers are so similar in the two that I do not know how 
they can be separated. There is also a plant which was collected in the 
Serra de Piedade in the province of Minas Geraes by Martius, and described 
by Lindley as L. caulescens (Bot. Reg., 1841, sub. t. 1), but it seems to 
represent only the most luxuriant state of L. flava, when the pseudobulb 
become four inches long, retaining, however, their stout character. Indeed, 
it was afterwards abandoned by Lindley as synonymous (Bot. Reg., 1842; ii 
t. 62). Aplant, however, figured as L. flava in L’Orchidophile (1891, P- 17 
with plate) has long, slender stems and elongated leaves, and apparently 
agrees in other respects with L. Cowani. It was from the collection of M. 
Moreau, which is all that is given of its history. The question therefore re- 
mains whether L. flava is not more polymorphic than generally supposed, 
and whether L. Cowani is more than a local form of it. R 
R. A. BR. 
ORCHID CULTURE IN LEAF MOULD. 
EpipHytaL Orchids, when cultivated in light leaf-soil, seem to flowet 
more abundantly than when grown in the ordinary way. The following 1s 
the course of proceedure recommended by some Belgian growers :—‘‘ For 
this culture Orchids recently inported should be chosen. Sufficient 
drainage is placed in the pot, and the plant is fixed upon the soil, which is 
slightly elevated to form a small hill in the pot. The surface is then 
covered with a layer of living sphagnum. The necessary degree of moisture 
to maintain the sphagnum always fresh is assured by syringing. No other 
vegetation, such as mcss, fungus, &c., penetrates the soil, of which the 
roots of the Orchids can thus make full use, without the air entering at the 
