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{{SPlantbox
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Lycaste (fanciful name). Orchidaceae. Epiphytic and terrestrial orchids; very popular as greenhouse subjects.
Pseudobulbs ovate or oblong-ovate, bearing 1 to several plicate lvs. at the summit, and sheathing lvs. from the base: sepals subsimilar, spreading, the lateral pair united with the base of the column and forming a spur-like chin or mentum; petals smaller, projecting forward, with the tips often recurved; labellum 3-lobed, the lateral lobes erect, middle lobe ascending or rev curved, with a fleshy, tongue-like callus on the disk; pollinia 4.—About 30 species, all natives of S. Amer.. Mex., and the W. Indies. The fls. are freely produced and remain in good condition on the plant for several weeks. They are normally borne singly on erect or sub-erect bracted scapes, but sometimes twin-fld. stalks occur. In Lycaste the scape arises from the very young leafy axis, which does not develop until several months later. The scape, therefore, appears from the base of the bulb. Among the species, L. Skinneri is a favorite orchid with growers. The species of Lycaste are very distinct from each other and do not fall readily into natural groups. The arrangement in the key is purely artificial, and does not indicate close relationship among the species grouped together.
The genus Lycaste is closely allied to Maxillaria and has a similar geographical range, being found from Mexico and the West Indies to Peru and southeastern Brazil. Notwithstanding this wide distribution, however, they readily subject themselves to one general mode of treatment, and may be grown in a bright cool portion of the cattleya or warm end of the odontoglossum department, where they should receive plenty of indirect solar light, moisture and sufficient ventilation to ensure an active atmosphere. During winter, the night temperature should range from 50° to 55° Fahr. and that of the day from 60° to 65°, or a few degrees higher, with sun heat and ventilation. In summer, the air should be as cool as possible, and contain plenty of moisture. When lycastes are growing they need a good supply of water at the roots, and should never be allowed to remain dry for a long time, even when at rest. Light syringing overhead is beneficial at all times in bright weather when air can be admitted. The deciduous species, however, must be carefully watered when at rest, for it must be remembered that in casting their foliage they lose most of their active radiating surface, thus reducing evaporation to a minimum.—For special treatment, they maybe divided into three groups, L. aromatica, L. costata and L. tetragona forming good types. The L. aromatica section embraces, besides the type, L. candida, L. cruenta, L. Deppei, L. lasioglossa, L. macrobulbon and kindred sorts, all more or less deciduous. These grow best in pots in a mixture of equal parts chopped peat fiber and sphagnum moss, with a small quantity of leaf-mold added. About one-third of the pot space should be devoted to drainage of broken charcoal or potsherds, and the compost must be carefully and rather firmly pressed in about the roots, leaving the base of the pseudobulbs on a level with or a little below the rim of the pot. The best time for transplanting is just after the plants start into new growth, at which time give a more abundant supply of water.—The L. costata group includes, besides the type, such species as L. lanipes, L. locusta and L. Skinneri, which, excepting the last, are but semi-deciduous, large-growing species. They succeed best under pot culture, and should be grown in a compost of about equal parts chopped sod, from which some of the fine soil has been removed, and decomposed leaves, adding a little chopped live sphagnum to keep the soil porous and to retain moisture. The compost should become nearly dry occasionally to prevent it from becoming sour.—The L. tetragona section is small; all are sempervirent and grow best under basket culture in porous material consisting of chopped peat fiber and live sphagnum, well mixed and interspersed with nodules of charcoal. The compost should be pressed in moderately firm about the roots to keep the plant steady, and newly imported pieces should be held in place by copper or brass wire crossed between the pseudobulbs.—Lycaste stock is usually supplied by new importations, but plants may be increased by cutting through the rhizome between the pseudobulbs, two at least being left to each piece.
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