156 



CASSELL'S POPULAE GARDENING. 



in its colour, some being- dark and others pale rose ; 

 the present variety, however, is thoroughly distinct, 

 and most dtsirahle; the shape of flowers and habit 

 of groTf-th are the same, but the blooms are of a 

 uniform pure white. Winter months. Moulmein. 



Lissoehilus. — A genus of terrestrial plants, 

 mostly natives of Africa. They are bold-growing 

 plants, with much the habit of Phajus, to which, 

 however, they are not related ; their nearest ally is, 

 perhaps, Eulophia, but whilst in that genus the 

 sepals and petals are equal, or nearly so, in 

 Lissoehilus the petals are invariably very much 

 the larger. These plants should not be potted 

 above the rim of the pot, but be treated as ordinary 

 stove-plants. The soil they thrive best in is equal 

 parts of peat, loam, leaf -mould, and sand. Drainage 

 must be perfect. They do not require severe drying 

 off, but enjoy an abundant supply of water when 

 growing. East Indian House. 



L. HorsfaUii. — The species belonging to this 

 family are not numerous, and several of them are 

 not showy ; in this instance, however, the plant is 

 both stately and bold in growth, and possesses great 

 beauty when in bloom. In general appearance it 

 resembles Phajas TTalHchii, with large, plaited, dark 

 green leaves ; the scape is erect, and the man}'- 

 flowered raceme of showy flowers stands well above 

 the foliage. Sepals small, spreading, purplish-brown, 

 petals very much larger and broader, also spreading, 

 white, tinged with delicate rose ; lip large three- 

 lobed, the basal lobes erect, green streaked with 

 reddish-purple, the middle one ovate, reddish-purple, 

 ornamented with three raised white lines on the 

 disc. October and November. Old Calabar, West 

 Africa. 



Z. Krebsii— This species, coming from quite an 

 opposite part of Africa, requires somewhat less heat. 

 The pseudo-bulbs are small, oblong, and deep green; 

 leaves about a foot high, plaited, and deep green ; 

 scape erect, twice as long as the leaves, flowers 

 rather laxly set, raceme bearing upwards of twenty 

 blooms ; sepals undulate at the margins, green 

 blotched and banded with dull purple, petals very 

 much larger, and deep golden-yellow; lip three- 

 lobed, side lobes short, erect, dull brown, middle 

 lobe ovate, pale yellow. Summer months. Natal. 



Liiddemannia.— This genus has been separated 

 from^ CJycnocius, and very justly so, we think, as its 

 afiinity always seem^ d to us to be with Laecena. It 

 is, however, distinct from both genera. In habit of 

 growth, general appearance of the plant, and with 

 its pendulous racemes of bloom, it resembles Laccena, 

 but it is distinguished by "its sessile depressed 

 sphtrical pollen-masses and minute caudicle ; " the 



same difl'eremces arise in the genus Cycnoehes, and 

 the peculiar quadrate lip is also another distinc- 

 tion. 



The species described here should be grown in a 

 hanging-basket, on account of the long pendulous 

 racemes, and the soil best suited to it is about equal 

 parts of peat and sphagnum, with some nodules 

 of charcoal to keep it open. Supply liberally with 

 water during the growing season, and do not allow 

 the pseudo-bulbs to shrivel during the resting season. 

 Brazilian House. 



L. Pescatorei. — Pseudo-bulbs robust, oblong, and 

 dark green, bearing a pair of stout, broadly lanceo- 

 late, plicate leaves, like those of an Acineta or 

 Lacmna. The long spikes are pendulous, and bear 

 twenty to thirty flowers somewhat laxly set. Sepals 

 tawny-yellow outside, light brown within, streaked 

 with crimson ; petals smaller, bright yellow ; lip 

 quadrate, toothed in front, bright yellow. Spring 

 and early summer. Venezuela. 



Lyeaste. — The plants belonging to tliis genus 

 were originally included with Maxillaria, but have 

 been separated from that family by the transverse 

 fleshy ridge which ornaments the lip, and the pollen- 

 masses being fui-nished with little foot-stalks. The 

 name commemorates a beautiful woman of the my- 

 thological era. 



Lycastes are peculiarly amateurs' Orchids, inas- 

 much as they thrive with very little artificial heat, 

 and will continue in bloom unharmed for a long time 

 in an ordinary room. 



Pot in rough peat and sphagnum. During the 

 growing season they enjoy a copious supply of water, 

 and during the resting-season they should never be 

 allowed to drj-, although much less will be requisite. 

 Peruvian House. 



L. Barringtonice, var. grandiflora. — A beautiful form 

 of a very old species. It has stout oblong pseudo- 

 bulbs, and large, broadly-oblong, plaited, dark green 

 leaves. The scapes arise from the base of the pseudo- 

 bulbs, and are about six inches long, erect, bearing- 

 a single large flower, which is thick and fleshy in 

 texture, some five or six inches across ; white, slightly 

 tinged with green. Spring months. South America. 



L. Beppei. — In this plant the pseudo-bulbs are 

 not so robust as those of the last-named species, and 

 the broad plicate leaves are paler green. Sepals 

 and petals brown, streaked and spotted with white 

 and orange ; lip small, deep orange. Winter and 

 spring months. Mexico. 



L. gigantea. — This is a strong bold-growing plant. 

 Pseudo-bulbs upwards of six inches high, bearing 

 several large and broad plicate leaves, two feet ov 

 more long. The flowers arise from the base of the 

 pseu lc -bulbs (like all the Lj castes), about the same 



