May, 1914-] 



THE ORCHID WORLD. 



'73 



Lycaste 



Although this species is accusloiued to a 

 comparatively low temperature, such as may 

 be found in our Odontoglossuni houses, 

 Lindley advised .\ Icinperalure of 80 degrees 

 by day and about 70 by night. In those days 

 the custom was to subject all Orchids to 

 excessive heat, no matter from what place or 

 climate they had come, for the knowledge of 

 cool-house treatment had not then been 

 discovered. There is every probability that 

 the measurement of the flower spike given by 

 Lindley as " full two feet " applied to a plant 

 which had been cultivated in his advised and 

 unnatural temperature, for under the ])rescnt- 

 day conditions of culture the flower stems do 

 not average more than 12-15 inches. 



The large flower, for it measures full\' 

 six inches from tip to base, has sepals and 



giganlea. 



petals of olivc-green, the labellum rich 

 maroon-purple with a border of orange. It 

 is a native of Colombia, and flowers during 

 the late winter months. The variety known as 

 labello-viridis differs in having a green lip. 



There is a suggestion of sadness in the 

 way the flowers are arranged in nodding 

 style ; they never unfold their segments in 

 the open and happy manner that is witnessed 

 in many of their near relations, nor do they 

 assume those bright colours which create a 

 sense of joy and gladness to the onlooker. 

 Nevertheless, Lycaste gigantea is not to be 

 despised by any means ; in its essential 

 characters it differs from many Orchids, and 

 for that reason alone, if not for others, it well 

 deserves a place of honour in both large and 

 small rollertions. 



VOL. IV. 



23 



