The forebodings of the Caribs were sadly verified. Mr. Ponder started back in the afternoon and they followed within a week--'made men' if they had wit enough to keep their booty, but not so rich as they had hoped.
Next rains Sam loyally performed his promise. And thus it happened that Messrs. Stevens were overwhelmed with Brassavola Digbyana once upon a time.
occupy different compartments in one house. The first will not detain us. All the species which orchidists, in a lordly way, term common are represented here--of course, by their best varieties. I can fancy the wonder and delight of a stranger entering when the Lycastes Skinneri alba and virginalis are in bloom, remembering my own emotion at the spectacle elsewhere. Not many of the genus appeal to the aesthetic, and Skinneri in especial lacks grace. But unsymmetrical form and abrupt rigidity of growth are forgotten when those great flowers, so pure, so divinely white, burst upon the eye. Charming also are the pale varieties of Skinneri, such as _Lady Roberts_, a dainty rose, the petals only just dark enough to show up the labellum almost white; and _Phyllis_ of somewhat deeper rose. Its velvety lip has a crimson margin well displayed by a small white patch upon the disc.
Leucantha, dainty green with white petals, is charming; a pan of aromatica with fifty or sixty delicate golden blooms makes a pretty show. But these things do not call for special notice.
There are varieties, however, of course, as the famous Lycaste plana _Measuresiana_, coppery, shining, with pure white petals, crimson spotted, and small white lip; plana _lassioglossa_, olive green of sepal and petal, with a bright rusty stain at the base; lip white, with conspicuous white spots.
_Fulvescens._--Large and spreading. Sepals and petals reddish orange, lip clear brightest orange, so lightly poised that it quivers at a breath. It has as many as forty flowers from one bulb sometimes.
_Denningiana._--Very large. Sepals and petals whitish green, lip brown.
_Mooreana._--An extraordinary variety of L. Locusta, which itself is extraordinary enough. Reichenbach described Locusta in his lively way: 'Green sepals, green petals, green lip, green callus, green ovary, green bract, green sheath, green peduncle, green bulbs, green leaves--just as green as a green grasshopper or the dress of some Viennese ladies.' Mooreana is larger, and the heavy fringe of the lip has a faint yellow shade.