Lycaste consobrina
This is an easy to grow Lycaste,
preferring warm conditions in the spring and summer, while tolerating cooler
temperatures in the fall and winter, into the low 40's. It will go deciduous in
the winter and the blooms will appear as early as March, more commonly in April.
This species grows the farthest north in range of the 5 yellow flowered Lycastes
found in Mexico. In the southern range I have seen it near Xicotepec de Juarez,
Veracruz, where Lycaste aromatica may also be found. In the northern range near
Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosi. When in bloom, it is easily distinguished, from
aromatica, first by the odor. The aromatica smells like cinnamon, while the
consobrina smells like a freshly cut Star Fruit, Carambola. Lycaste consobrina will
also have fewer flowers and broader segments than aromatica, plus, the lateral
lobes of the lip are rounded and broad, whereas the later has a more elongated
extended midlobe/callus with more pointed lateral lobes.
This species is extremely difficult to separate from the following species when
not in bloom:
Lycaste aromatica
Lycaste cochleata
Lycaste crinita
Lycaste cruenta