4G8 



ORCHID-GROWEK S MA>'UAL. 



in fibrous loam, and to have g'ood drainage sccuivd, as the_v need a 

 liberal supply of water during the time they are making their growth. 

 As they come from a tropical clime they require to be grown in a strong 

 heat. This genus is much neglected and despised ).)y Orchi<l-growers, 

 but though we have not yet had the liest species introduced to our 

 gardens, or if they have been thej" have soon disappeared, some of those 

 within the reach of Orchidists are well worth attention. 



■ L. DILECTUS, B'chh. f. — A species producing flower spikes more than 

 2 feet liigb, bearing from four to ten flowers, ivhicli are said to be " rosj- with a 

 yellow mouth to the gibbous spur, w-hich is striped with purple ; Ijase of the lip 

 white"; the petals are very broad, oblong ; li]i trifid. — Angula ; <_'nnr/o. 



L. GIGANTEUS, TT'e/(ri7s(?7i. — A trulj' magnificent species, the giant of the 

 genus. It is of terrestrial habit, pseudobulb or tul)er hidden below the surface 



of the soil, bearing ob- 

 long-acununatc. plicate 

 h'aves some o or more 

 feet long, and rich green; 

 peduncle in its wild state 

 said to attain a height of 

 I(i feet, but under culti- 

 vation it has not reached 

 to more than half that 

 altitude, bearing a ra- 

 ceme of some twenty to 

 forty flowers, each of 

 which are 3 to 4 inches 

 across ; bracts very con- 

 spicuous, cuneate-oblong, 

 aiiiculate. shorter than 

 the stalked ovaries; se- 

 pals verj- small, reflexed 

 greenish ; petals broadly 

 ol)long, forming rjuitc a 

 liood over the lip ; these 

 arc bi-ight rose colour on 

 the outside, ros}' - lilac 

 within, with deeper co- 

 loureil veins; lip trowel- 

 sha]ied, three-lobed, the 

 side lobes erect, rounded, 

 the middle lobe 3 inches 

 long, s|n-cading, undulate 

 at the sides, a])iculate in 

 fi'ont, colour rosy-lilac, 

 and purple round the outer border, with darker veins, and on the disk arc three 

 yellow, fleshy plates ; the base is much swollen, terminating in a sluirt, straight, 



LISSOCHILUS GIGAXTE0S. 



