Lycaste

For the mythological figures, see Lycaste (mythology). For the leaf beetle genus formerly known as Lycaste, see Eupetale.

Lycaste, abbreviated as Lyc. in horticultural trade, is a genus of orchids that contains about 30 species with egg-shaped pseudobulbs and thin, plicate (pleated) leaves.

Lycaste
Lycaste skinneri
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Tribe:	Cymbidieae
Subtribe:	Maxillariinae
Genus:	Lycaste Lindl., 1843
Species
See text
Synonyms
Deppia Raf. Selbyana Archila × Lycobyana Archila

Description

Lycaste flowers, like all orchid blooms, have three petals and three sepals. The petals are typically yellow, white, or orange, and the sepals are yellow, orange, green, or reddish brown. The petals and sepals may be marked sparsely or densely with red, reddish purple, purple, or reddish brown spots. The lip (ventral petal) may be very similar to the other two petals, as in Lycaste aromatica or Lycaste brevispatha, or colored quite distinctively, as in several subspecies and varieties of Lycaste macrophylla. Most Lycaste flowers are medium in size, averaging about 5 to 10 cm, but Lycaste schilleriana is 16–18 cm across. Some Lycaste blooms have a unique fragrance - the scent of Lycaste aromatica has been variously described as cinnamon or clove. The blooms of the species Lycaste cochleata, Lycaste consobrina, and Lycaste cruenta also have a pleasant scent.

Taxonomy

The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, maintained by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, is recognized by the American Orchid Society as the definitive authority on orchid taxonomy. The Checklist currently acknowledges 31 species of Lycaste, 3 natural hybrids, 2 subspecies (and 1 nominate subspecies), and 1 variety. Orchid growers and orchid collectors, who tend to be taxonomic splitters more often than lumpers, recognize additional subspecies and varieties of Lycaste, as well as alba (white) forms of several species.

Sections

The Lycastes are divided into four sections and two subsections:

• Section Deciduosae - deciduous, that is, they usually lose their leaves during an annual dormant period
  • Subsection Xanthanthae - have yellow to orange blooms; the name comes from xantho (yellow) and anthos (flower)
  • Subsection Paradeciduosae - have pink-marked white blooms; the name comes from para (similar or near) and deciduosae (deciduous)
• Section Longisepalae - has very long sepals
• Section Macrophyllae - keep their leaves during dormancy; the name comes from macro (large) and phyllae (leaves)
• Section Fimbriatae - typically have fringed lips

All but two of the Deciduosae have spines at the apices of their pseudobulbs, that become exposed when the leaves are dropped. The exceptions are the Xanthanthae species Lycaste lasioglossa and the Paradeciduosae species Lycaste tricolor. Both of these species lack spines, and may bloom when leaves are still present.

List of species by section

Lycaste aromatica

Xanthanthae

• Lycaste aromatica
• Lycaste bradeorum
• Lycaste campbelli
• Lycaste cochleata
• Lycaste consobrina
• Lycaste crinita
• Lycaste cruenta
• Lycaste deppei
• Lycaste lasioglossa
• Lycaste macrobulbon

Paradeciduosae

• Lycaste brevispatha
• Lycaste tricolor

Lycaste Cassipeia 'Autumn glow'

Macrophyllae

Lycaste xytriophora

Lycaste dowiana

• Lycaste dowiana
• Lycaste leucantha
• Lycaste macrophylla
  • Lycaste macrophylla var. desboisiana
  • Lycaste macrophylla subsp. macrophylla
  • Lycaste macrophylla subsp. puntarenasensis
  • Lycaste macrophylla subsp. xanthocheila
• Lycaste neglecta
• Lycaste powellii
• Lycaste skinneri
• Lycaste xytriophora

Fimbriatae

• Lycaste longipetala
• Lycaste mesochlaena

Natural hybrids

• Lycaste × groganii (Lycaste aromatica × Lycaste deppei)
• Lycaste × michelii (Lycaste cochleata × Lycaste lasioglossa)
• Lycaste × smeeana (Lycaste deppei × Lycaste skinneri)

Hybrids

• Angulocaste (Anguloa × Lycaste)
• Cochlecaste (Cochleanthes × Lycaste)
• Colaste (Colax × Lycaste)
• Lycasteria (Bifrenaria × Lycaste)
• Lycida (Ida × Lycaste)
• Maxillacaste (Lycaste × Maxillaria)
• Zygocaste (Lycaste × Zygopetalum)

A 2002 revision of the Lycaste genus moved many species of the section Fimbriatae to a new genus, Ida. The 34 species of Ida occur in South America and the Caribbean Islands (Ida barringtoniae), while true Lycastes occur mostly in Mexico and Central America. The genus Ida is recognized by the World Checklist of Monocotyledons.

References

• Well-written web site by Phil Tomlinson on Lycastes and the closely related genus Anguloa; the Lycaste information is based largely on the 1970 monograph by Dr. J. A. Fowlie.
• WCSP (2011), World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2011-10-23, search for "Lycaste"
• Fowlie, J. A., 1970: The Genus Lycaste; privately printed
• Dr. Henry F. Oakeley, 1993 : Lycaste Species: The Essential Guide
• Dr. Henry F. Oakeley, 2008 : Lycaste, Ida and Anguloa: The Essential Guide
• A.F.W. (Fred) Alcorn and Michael S. Hallett, 1993. Lycaste orchids : cultivation and hybridisation

External links

• Media related to Lycaste at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Lycaste at Wikispecies
• Lycaste
• American Orchid Society culture sheet for Lycaste