Lycaste skinneri Lind.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘This [Maxillaria skinneri] is the finest Maxillaria I ever saw.  It has a gentle odour; but the lip is magnificent purply white, with centre tigered in deep rose colour.  Flowers in December and January, and even in April have I seen it.  Habitat 68 degrees and 75 degrees. Terrestrial.  Nearly allied to M. Harrisoniae.  Diameter of the flower from tip to tip of the lateral sepals four inches and a half.’  [BR misc.101/1840].

‘We are indebted to Mr. Skinner (who has also obtained for us may other of our most valuable Orchids) for the introduction of this noble species from Guatamala; and we trust that he will cause more of it to be imported, in order that we may be able to grow it more abundantly as its cultivation becomes better understood.  Many fine specimens of it have been destroyed by improper treatment.  It has now been proved to be one of the hardiest Orchids we have.  Any one who has a vine-house, with the command of a little heat in winter, will be able to grow it.’  [Williams (1) pl.10/1862-65].

History at Camden Park

Probably obtained from Loddiges’ nursery, from whom it was requested on 1st February, 1849, the first record.  [MP A2933-1, p.185].  The only other reference to this plant is a hand written entry in a copy of the 1850 catalogue held at the Mitchell Library [ML 635.9m].  This copy bears William Macarthur’s signature and the date 23rd Dec. 1854.  It did not appear in the printed 1857 edition but was certainly grown in 1854.

Notes