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Lycaste (Called after Lycaste)

(called after Lycaste, the beautiful daughter of Priam). Including Colax and Paphinia. ORD. Orchideae. A genus comprising about twenty-five species of very ornamental stove or greenhouse epiphytal or terrestrial Orchids, natives of tropical America, extending from Peru to Mexico and the West Indies. They are nearly allied to Anguloa. The genus is remarkable in having the middle of the lip furnished with a transverse, fleshy, entire or notched appendage. The species are of easy culture, and especially valuable to the amateur grower, as they require very little artificial heat. They should be potted in rough fibrous peat and sphagnum, and drained well; for, although these plants produce stout pseudo-bulbs, which would enable them to sustain life for a long time, they nevertheless increase faster, and flower more profusely, when kept moderately moist during the resting season. Whilst growing, Lycastes can scarcely have too much water, always providing it is allowed to pass away quickly, and that plenty of air be admitted. Propagated by division, after flowering. Stove species, except where otherwise stated. L. aromatica (aromatic).* fl. yellow, disposed in spikes; lip very hairy. Winter and spring. Mexico, 1828. A common and very free-flowering, warm-house species, remaining in beauty for four or five weeks. (B. R. 1871, under name of Maxillaria aromatica).

L. Barringtoniae (Mrs. Barrington's). fl. greenish, nodding; perigonal divisions ovate-oblong, pointed; lateral cohering, and forming a bluntly conical spur-like auricle; lip smaller; middle lobe ovate-oblong, blunt, ciliate; scape as long as the petioles. April. l. oblong, pointed, tapering to the slender petiole. Jamaica, 1790. (B. R. 1206, under name of Maxillaria ciliata.) L. B. grandiflora (large-flowered). This differs from the type chiefly in the very large size of the flowers, which are as much as 5in. in diameter. West Indies, 1868. (B. M. 5706.) L. cristata (crested).* fl. white outside, interruptedly banded with purple inside; petals purple, whitish at base; scape pendulous, few-flowered. June to August. l. oblong-lanceolate, shortly stalked, plicate. Trinidad, 1834. Intermediate. (B. M. 4836, under name of Paphinia cristata; B. R. 1811, under name of Maxillaria cristata.) L. cruenta (bloody).* fl., sepals greenish, yellow; petals deep orange; lip deep orange, blotched with crimson. March and April. Guatemala, 1841. This very free-flowering species thrives in a vinery, or even a greenhouse. It remains in beauty a month. (B. R. 1842, 13, under name of Maxillaria cruenta.) L. Deppei (Deppe's).* fl. pale greenish-yellow, blotched with brown; lip white, spotted with crimson, having a golden-yellow crest. Winter and spring. South Mexico, 1828. A distinct, though not very handsome, warm-house species, flowering freely, and remaining in beauty for a considerable time. SYN.