U'
L \ ' C A S T F , SivIKXKRl M
VAR. AI^Ml iNIACA wrr.
: cxccdclilc, scpalis obloiigu-ligulntis acuì Is, pctnlis
1= Intloribus, Inbello oblango-liRuInto trllido, tacini
IriaiiRula ciorgnta, callo seni ¡ligula lo antico libc
ibelli iiilosulo, coìuinna trigona amico jiubcriila.
Reg,, XXIX. ( 1843), Misc., p. 15 ; I'axl. Mag. «oL, X
Serres, J V., t. 303, 30,1 ; I'csoiloroa, L jp (ct vj
Orch., scr, 1, t 10; Kticlicnbachi.i, I., p. yi, L 4
Lindi. Hot, Rcg.. XÄ
1.(1840), Mi«, p. 4«; id.
plant in 1839. ])>it
mot ^^•ith it, that lie scdl living
\VinterShowiniS4l - - •
I.ycnste virgitialis. T
passed them on to D^r. Lindlcy, wl
specics firsi flovvcrcd in Helgiiim.
(lowerod in the eoilcction of the t
Lindlcy's description would be vvr
IIAVC failed lo find Ihc jjrcciao dat
Skinner of tlic merit of first discovi
A LOVELY addition to t!ii
MAXiLi.ARtA SKIN
XXVIII., Misc„p. 10; liatcra. M
MAXILLAktA »'IKCIINALIS, Horl., ox Williams Orch. Gr. M.->n., wl. 6, p. 381,
comprosso-ovoidei, demuin Jiinc i)aucicosciii, bi-lriphylli. I'ulia cuncalooblongr.,
lipMata, acuta, plicata. Pcdunculi cx vagi.ils fnltionlibus. nunc vaidc numerosi.
lune ovario pcdicellaia non ¡uquantis, sod
... aspera, nunc intense purpureo tincti. Pulchri, qui eandidissimi
pctalis lnbelloi|UC purpurcis. Callus albiclus sou flavus. Labelii lacinia: latomles nunc inlui
nava.-. Coiuniiia alba, nunc anlicc purpureo striala, arca basilari anlicc purpurea emarL-t.iala
scu (laveola superne piiq)i:reo marginala. Non locus e3.t cmimerandi copiam varielalum.
rgerriinc in varictalem serio conlinua iteruin reeognosccntur.
1840, as " Ma.xillaria Skinneri. Baleillan'a
he over saw, ihc noivera in.
nan's description in full, adding, hó«'-
- ,..-..ou.<ly described under tlic «me rame
>vas another specie,., far inferior in l^eauty, of which a ligure «vould apjxrar in the Itola.,ìcilI
Register for the foiloivmg month. This figure duly appeared, as Maxillaria emonia. There
are t^yo dried lluwera preserved in Lindley's lierbariuni, carefully label led "Max il la ria Skinneri,
4«, n.) 101," vvliich prove that the first published M. Skinneri «-as
l.indlcy simply failed lo identify the living specimen willi Ihe dried
riainly doe? iioi apply to M. cruenta, iiarticiilarly in colour. The
vai an unfortunate one. I'rof. Keiehenbaeh tried lo clear it up in our first volume
J1 ivilh lillle suece.ss. It was also ik-aerted that Mon,«. J. Linden lirsi <liseovered Ihe
. February, 1840, in the forests of San Bartholo, in the Slate of Chiapas, that he /irsi
name Maxiltaria viTjinalis, and that it was aiiardod the first prise as a iieiv plant at Ilio
Reeenlly (Lindenia, IV., p. 22) it iv.-i.« argued tliat Ihc proi>er name for tliis plant shoiild be
: plant in Guatemala jirior lo l'"ebruary, 1840, fo
in turn drew up a description, wliieli was published as early 0
n February, 1843, l.indlcy announced tliat " M. Skinneri, tl
•.Jolin Clowes." The "winter of 1841 " probably means iS,
I . lialer .med ai
of the m /hieh b.
id thai Ihe
II known Maxillarias, lias at length
lin a year of its di.seovci>0, and as
two countries or first in Kngland. I
cd up, espeeiilly as it deprived Mr.
/J. /<o//c.
casily-grown and very beaiitiful winter and spriiig-noweriiig species. It was sliown at the
Royal Horticultural Society's meeting on March 15, 1890, and unanimously awarded a first-class certificate, Reginald
Young, Esq., Fringilla, Sefton Park, Liverpool, being tlie exhibitor. Us unique colouring drew forth many exclamations
of surprise, for a similar variety had never been .seen before. One can easily call to mind twenty varieties, dilTering from
the normal type in many ways, without including the albino of the genus; but this is the only instance that an apricot
colouring has been observed in the blos.soms of Lycaste Sicinneri, notwithstanding that for the last twenty years large
importations have been received, sold, and /lowered. In shape and texture the flowers of this unique variety may be
compared to the best broad-petal led forms of Lyca.ste Skinneri alba, but it is incomparable in the delicate apricot-hued
suffusion overspreading the sepals, petals, and labellum. Its chief charm lies in this novel colouring, which also
suggested to us tlie name of " armeniaca. ' It is one of those veiy rare gems that at intervals dawn upon the orchid
world to captivatc and delight the enthusiast, and compen.sate him for his carc and watchfulness—although in the
present case it was just the merest chance which of our customers for Lycastes might have purchased this gem for
five shillings, as it was one of a batch that was being rapidly disposed of at that price.
This variety can be as easily cultivated as the most ordinary kind, and should be potted in July, and kept in a
temperature of about 60 deg. Fahr. until the pseudo-bulbs have completed their growths, when water may be partially
withheld, and the plants removed to a more airy and cooler temperature. A most important thing in its cultivation i s -
never to allow the pseudo-bulbs to shrivel or the plants will soon perish. In its native habitat it is found growing on
rocks and mossy banks, in very moist places, in rich humus or vegetable i^cMs. and although long droughts are common
m its native country, the Lycastes—from their position and the heavy dews they receive—never suffer from them. Un<lcr
cultivation we have often seen from twelve to sixteen flowers produced on a single pseudo-bulb. There a
i few species
of orchids for which the admiration of the public so varies as for Lycastes; some amateurs hardly eve
grow them,
whereas in the collections of others hundreds of plants are cultivated. The r<
disliking Lycaste Skinneri
is. perhaps, traceable to a certain roughness in the texture of the flower, thus
more apparent in the coloured varieties, and which is really necessary lo carry out the general arrangement of colour .„
the plant. One is subject to seeing the microscopic beauties in things, and this may account for the objection in bestowmg
1 parting a granulated surface, this being
that praise upon the ordinary coloured forms of Lycaste Skinneri which is unanimously given to the white variety.
The graceful lines and soft colour of the foliage are pcrfect settings for the contrasted form and colour of the flowers.
Our plate Wi a plan le collection of Reginald Young, Es!|., I'ringilla, Sefton I'ark, Liverpool.