METOAKA DESERT ROSE NURSERY AND DESIGN

The Lycastes have been divided into four sections, one of which has 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 is from xantho - yellow, and anthos - flower
  • Subsection Paradeciduosae - have pink-marked white blooms; the name is from para- similar or near, and deciduosae- deciduous ones
• Section Longisepalae - has very long sepals
• Section Macrophyllae - keep their leaves during dormancy; the name is 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 a Xanthanthae species, Lycaste lasioglossa, and a Paradeciduosae species, Lycaste tricolor. Both of these species lack spines, and may bloom when leaves are still present

The recognized Xanthanthae species include:

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

The Paradeciduosae species include:

• Lycaste brevispatha,
• Lycaste tricolor.

The Macrophyllae form a large complex, with subspecies and varieties that can be considered to be in the process of differentiating into new full species. The Macrophyllae species include:

• 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.

The Fimbriatae species include:

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