Maxillaria species unidentified [1]

Maxillaria is a genus of about 250, evergreen, rhizomatous, epiphytic or terrestrial orchids from tropical and sub-tropical Central and South America, the flowers, ranging from white to dark red or yellow in colour, appear throughout the summer.  It is possible that the two plants isted in the catalogues as ‘Maxillaria species’ belong to a related genus, such as Bifrenaria or Lycaste.

Horticultural & Botanical History

No data.

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [O.39/1850].

Notes

Loddiges and Sons, a nursery that specialised somewhat in orchids, figured nine Maxillaria species in the final seven years of its publication the Botanical Cabinet.  We know that William Macarthur was a regular reader of this journal, possessing a number of volumes, and he appears to have used it as a catalogue from which to order plants.  Species figured and describe were: M. atropurpurea, with purple flowers, ‘The beauty of the flowers, and its singularity both in form and colour, render it a most valuable addition to the number of the Orchidaceous plants, to which, if we unite its delicious fragrance, there will be few more desirable.’  [LBC no.1877/1832].  M. barringtoniae, ‘A native of Jamaica: it has long been known in this country’.  [LBC no.1824/1832].  M. deppii [LBC no.1612/1830].  M. galeata [LBC no.1645/1830].  M. gracilis, ‘This curious little plant is a native of Brazil; it is very slender in its habit, and does not exceed the height of four inches.’ [LBC no.1837/1832].  M. ochroleuca with white and yellow flowers, ‘A native of Brazil, lately introduced.’  [LBC no.1904/1833].  M. punctata, with yellow and white flowers spotted with red, ‘Native of Brazil, introduced a few years since.’  [LBC no.1914/1833].  M. racemosa [LBC no.1318/1828].  M. warreana, Brazil, with yellow, white and purple flowers.  [LBC no.1884/1832].

Published Jan 26, 2010 - 02:58 PM | Last updated Jan 26, 2010 - 03:00 PM


More details about Maxillaria species unidentified [1]
Family Orchidaceae
Category
Region of origin

Unknown

Synonyms
Common Name
Name in the Camden Park Record

Maxillaria sp. 

Confidence level low