TAB; ITT. 
CATTLEYA’ SKINNERI: 
MR. SKINNER’S CATTLEYA. 
Trisus: EPIDENDRE ®.—Linptey. 
CATTLEYA. Lindley, Gen. et Sp. Orch. 116. 
Perranruium explanatum. Sepala patentia, aqualia. Petala Saepitis 
majora. Labellum cucullatum, columnam involvens (rarissime liberum) trilobum 
vel indivisum. Columna clayata, elongata, semiteres, marginata, cum labello arti- 
culata. Anthera carnosa, 4-locularis, septorum marginibus membranaceis. Pollinia 
4, caudiculis totidem replicatis—Herbe Americane epiphyte. Folia coriacea. 
Flores speciosissimi, seepe e spatha magna erumpentes. 
Carrieya Skinneri; pseudo-bulbis vald’ incrassatis compressis diphyllis foliis oblongis duplo longio- 
ribus ; racemo denso brevi multifloro. Sepalis lineari-lanceolatis acutis, petalis ovalibus undulatis duplo 
latioribus : labello integro infundibuliformi emarginato obtuso, columna nana 4-plo longiore. 
Habitat in Guatemaléd.—Sx1nner. 
Description. 
Pseudo-bulbous STEMS very much incrassated, jointed, compressed, about a foot long, terminated 
by two oblong fleshy Leaves, from four to six inches long. RACEME short, issuing from a large 
SpaTHe, composed of from four to twelve flowers, clustered together. SEPALS linear-lanceolate, 
acute, two inches long, of a rich rosy hue. PETALS broadly oval, twice the width of the sepals, 
waved at the edges, and rose-coloured. Lip entire or very obscurely three-lobed, funnel-shaped, 
Solded closely over the column, of which it is more than four times the length; towards the middle 
the lip is bent downwards, and very much constricted, but spreads open at its upper extremity ; 
externally it is of the same hue as the petals, but all round its interior edges there is a band of the 
most intense crimson, which passes, towards its disk, into a dirty white; one small elevated ridge 
traverses, longitudinally, its entire length. Corumn dwarf, about one third of an inch in length. 
UNTIL within the last few years, the extensive province of Guatemala had continued quite a “ terra incognita” 
to the admirers of Orchidacew, who were ready, nevertheless, to regard it as a rich storehouse of their favourite plants, 
im consequence of the known beauty of the tribe in Mexico and Panama,—the two extremities of that remarkable 
Isthmus, of which Guatemala is itself the centre. The small number of European, and almost total absence of English, 
residents, had rendered the attainment of any precise information as to its natural history, all but impossible; and to 
have dispatched a botanical collector on a mission to a country whose Flora possessed only a conjectural interest, was 
too wild a speculation, even for Orchido-mania to venture on, Things might still have remained in this tantalizing 
state, had we not accidentally heard that some insects had been received in Manchester from a gentleman of the name 
of Skinner, the owner of extensive estates in Guatemala, and the partner in a flourishing mercantile firm in the same 
country.+ This piece of intelligence immediately brought with it a faint gleam of hope; for, as entomology and botany 
are kindred sciences, we were at no loss to persuade ourselves that he who had done so much for the one, might 
possibly be tempted to lend a helping hand to the other. We accordingly addressed a letter to Mr. Skrynzr, in which 
we frankly described the circumstances of the case, and humbly craved his assistance. This letter, addressed as it 
was to an entire stranger, and on a troublesome errand, we could scarcely expect to see otherwise than coolly received, 
if not altogether disregarded ;—that such, at least, is the fate of most epistles of its class, a host of disappointed suitors 
will bear us out in asserting; must we add, that even the promises of zealous aid, which the more fortunate applicants 
receive, are not unfrequently lost sight of amid the difficulties that oppose their fulfilment, or are dissolved under the 
enervating rays of a tropical sun! But with Mr. Skinner the case was far otherwise. From the moment he received 
our letter, he has laboured almost incessantly to drag from their hiding places the forest treasures of Guatemala, and 
* So called by Professor Lindley in honour of the late Mr. Cattley, of Barnet, one of the earliest, most zealous, and successful cultivators 
of the Orchidacez. 
+ Mr. Skinner is the son of the Rev. John Skinner, Episcopal Clergyman at Forfar, and the grandson of Bishop Skinner, an eminent divine and 
excellent scholar, as his numerous works abundantly testify. 
