PL. 57. PESCATOREA LEHMANNI.
PESCATOREA LEHMANNI.
[[Plate 57].]
Native of the Andes of Ecuador.
Epiphytal. Stems none, or consisting of a short crown or growing point, from which the leaves, with their narrowed overlapping bases and the stout fibrous roots proceed. Leaves lorate-lanceolate acute, upwards of a foot long, and from an inch to an inch and a half wide, of thin, firm texture, ribbed. Scapes radical, much shorter than the leaves, bracteate, one-flowered. Flowers large, upwards of three inches across, showy, white striped with purple; sepals and petals broadly cuneate oblong, obtusely rounded, with a short projecting point, white, with contiguous curved parallel lines of reddish purple extending nearly to the edge; lip deep mauve-purple, the basal segments small, triangular, erect, the interposed calli forming a ruff of chestnut-brown, consisting of about eleven ridges, the anterior mauve-coloured portion oblong, revolute, retuse, covered with lines of long bristle-like purple papillæ. Column stout, curved forwards, purple and rounded behind, brown in front, the anther case whitish green.
Pescatorea Lehmanni, Reichenbach fil., in Gardeners’ Chronicle, N.S., xii., 424.
Zygopetalum Lehmanni, Reichenbach fil., in Gardeners’ Chronicle, N.S., xii., 424.
The genus Pescatorea is one of recent introduction. A few years ago the plants referred to it were unknown, but latterly they have been met with by botanical collectors, and have gradually found their way to our Orchid houses, some very beautiful species being included amongst them. Pescatorea Lehmanni, represented in the accompanying illustration, is one of these. It was exhibited a short time since at the Royal Horticultural Society, South Kensington, by Messrs. Vervaet & Co., Nurserymen, of Ghent, Belgium, and on that occasion was deservedly awarded a First Class Certificate. It was from this specimen, which was a well-grown one, that our plate was taken. The plant was grown on a block of wood, and thus placed had a really beautiful and attractive appearance. The species was collected by Mr. Lehmann, in whose honour it is named, and who has sent home many fine Orchids.
Pescatorea Lehmanni is an evergreen plant, with broadish light green ribbed foliage, which grows from twelve to eighteen inches in height. The flowers are produced from the axils of the leaves at the base of the very short stem, several proceeding from each tuft; they have the sepals and petals white, striped with purple lines, while the lip is mauve-coloured, covered with a number of hair-like papillæ, and having a rich brown ruff or throat. The plant blooms after it has completed its growth, and the flowers continue fresh for some considerable time; it appears to yield its blossoms at different times of the year.
These plants are not generally well cultivated, but in the case of those we saw at Messrs. Vervaet’s there seemed to be no difficulty about it. They were fixed on blocks of wood, which appears the most natural method of cultivating them; and no plants could be thriving better, producing finer foliage, or flowering more profusely than these. The appearance they presented when hanging from the roof was very charming, as the flowers and plants both seemed to be in their natural position, which of course conduces greatly to success in their cultivation, wherein it is wise in most cases to follow natural habits as closely as possible. They are found in their native country growing on the branches of trees in moist places, and in consequence when suspended from the roof they require abundance of water, which can easily be applied with a syringe about the roots. We have seen them thrive well on blocks plunged in pots of fibrous peat, but in this way they frequently fail, and after two or three years’ growth the plants rot away. Of course there are exceptional cases in which they grow well for a longer period; but they will, we believe, be found to thrive better and last longer in a suspended position, if they get shaded from the sun. Their leaves being broad and thin are apt to become spotted if exposed to the full sun heat, but they like plenty of light, which they get when hanging from the roof, besides which their growth becomes more robust, and their foliage stands better. We find the cool end of the East Indian house to suit them. They require to be watered all the year round, not having bulbous stems to support them, and they take little rest, being generally in full vigour. In winter rather less water may be given, just sufficient to keep them plump.
Insects must always be closely sought after, as the foliage of these plants is tender, such as these pests delight to feed upon. The species are propagated by dividing them where there are one or two back shoots, with a young growth in front.