292 ORCHIDS 



Liparis. 



Very few species are worth growing. The hardy sorts 

 thrive in a moist, shady situation, and do best when planted 

 \'er)' shallow, and covered \\"ith moss. The sto\e kinds 

 require a compost of fibr}^ peat, s]:)hagnum, and a 

 liberal sprinkling of rough sand, and are most suitabl)- 

 grown in shallow pans or baskets. L. liliifolia {A. Rich.) is 

 the North American Twa}'blade. The species are rarel)' 

 seen in cultivation outside botanic collections. 



LISSOCHILUS. 



.Some thirt)' species of terrestrial Orchids, of the tribe 

 ]'(jiidt\e, several of them decidedly handsome and distinct 

 in character, are comprised in this genus, founded b\- 

 Robert ])rown. The name is from lissos, smooth, and 

 f/ic/'/os, a lip. The pseudo-bulbs are flesh}' \\']ien )'oung, 

 hard and almost woody when old ; tlie)' are usualh' 

 underground. The lea\'es are more or less lance-shaped, 

 with prominent longitudinal nerxes. The flowers are borne 

 on long, stout, many-flowered scapes, springing from the 

 pseudo-bulbs. A distinguishing character of the flower 

 is the dissimilarit)' of the sepals and [:ietals — the lattei' 

 being much larger, and generally different in colour. 

 The lip is saccate, and is joined to the base of the 

 column. All the species are nati\-e of Southern and 

 tropical Africa. 



Culture. — These plants are most successfull)- grown in 

 pans, in a compost of fibrous peat, leaf-soil, and a little 

 coarse silver-sand. When in full growth, the}' must be 

 freel}' supplied with water; but in order to insure flowering 

 it is necessary in winter to keep them dry for about three 

 months. During active growth, weak manure-water may 

 be given at intervals of a week or a fortnight. With the 

 exception of L. giganteiis, the species here described ma\' 

 be grown \\-ith the Cattleyas. The culture of L. wigantcus, 

 of which but {c\\ plants arc at present introduced, is less 

 understood. Naturally, it grows on the banks of the Ri\X'r 

 Congo, in shallow pools and marshy places ; in the dr}- 

 season, however, the soil becomes parched, and it receives 

 a thorough baking. From this ^\■e may infer that during 

 activity the plants should be given the moistest, hottest 

 position in the stove — the soil being kept saturated. As 



