466 ORCHIDS 



Sobralia. 



As Sobralias require almost unlimited supplies of water 

 during growth, careful drainage is important, a depth of 

 about one-fifth of the pot being necessar\-. During \\'inter 

 less water is required, but the soil should alwaj's be moist. 

 When the growths become crowded, it is advisable to 

 remo\'e a proportion of those that ha\-e flowered, thus 

 gi\-ing light and freedom to the \-oung ones that are 

 pushing. 



S. leucoxantha {Rchh. /.). — Though as yet rare in gardens, 

 this is a superb species. Its slender stems are lift, to 2ft. high, 

 and produce the hlooms at intervals during the summer months. 

 The leaves are plaited, cuneate-oblong, and pointed. The sepals 

 are nearly 3in. long by tin. broad, pure white, the tips recurved; 

 the petals are also pure white, scarcely so lirm in texture as the 

 sepals. The outside of the lip is pure white, as is also the 

 prettily-frilled edge on the inside, but the colour deepens gradu- 

 ally into a rich golden-yellow in the throat : the sides are 

 incurved over the column, forming a tube 2in. in length, the 

 apex expanding. Costa Rica, 18S5. (I!. M., t. 7058). 



S. Lowii [Roljc). — Stems of a dark purple shade, ift. to lift, 

 high. Flowers medium size, bright purple. This species is 

 allied to ^. sessilis. Colombia, 1890. 



S. Lucasiana {Hort). — Stems 3ft. to 5ft. high. Flowers large ; 

 sepals and petals white, faintly tinged with rose ; lip rosy-purple, 

 with a yellow blotch at the base. Tropical America, 1892. This 

 is regarded b)' some as but a variety of S. tiiacrantha. 



S. macrantha (Z/;/;//.).— This is the best known, and perhaps 

 the most useful, of Sobralias. The slender, reeddike stems are 

 4ft. to 7ft. high, the leaves with which the upper part is furnished 

 being deep green, plaited, ovate, and pointed. The flowers are 

 large and showy, frequently measurmg 6in. to 7in. across ; after 

 the first day they commence to fade. The sepals are oblong, 

 the petals being broader, and crfsped at the margin. The base 

 of the lip closes over the column ; the front portion is broad, 

 spreadmg, and wavy round the edge. The whole flower is of a 

 rich purple, with the exception of "a spot of pale yellow on the 

 base of the lip. WeU-established specunens of this species are 

 rarely out of flower from May to July. It thrives in the 

 coolest part of the intermediate-house. During the summer, 

 too much water can scarcely be given if the drainage be perfect, 

 and Avhen growth is most active occasional applications of weak 

 manure-water are beneficial. Guateiriala and Mexico, 1842. 

 (B. M., t. 4446.) 



