4 
Ri OCCU xecixe 
LYCASTE SKINNERI uo. var. PURPUREA Hort. 
Mr. SKINNER’S LYCASTE, PURPLE VARIETY. 
LYCASTE. Vide Lindenia, Engl. ed., vol. III, p. rr. 
Lycaste Skinneri. Pseudobulbi compresso-ovoidei, demum hunc paucicostati, di-triphylli. Folia elliptico-lanceolata, 
acuta, plicata, scapo laxe vaginato ascendente duplo longiora. Bractea cucullata, lanceolato-ovata, acuta, Sepala 
patentia, elliptico-oblonga, acuta. Petala supra columnam convoluta, elliptico-oblonga apicibus reflexis, sepalis duplo 
breviora, Labellum trilobum, lobis lateralibus erectis, rotundatis, intermedio rotundato-ovato deflexo, callo carnoso 
linguiformi inter lacinias laterales locato. Columna clavata, subteres, subtus pubescens, 
Lycaste Skinneri Linpv. Bot. Reg., XXIX (1843). Misc., p. 15. — Paxr. Mag. Bot., XI, p. 1, cum ic, — 
Bot. Mag., t. 4445. — Fl. des Serres, IV, t. 303, 304. — Pescatorea, t. 39 (et var. alba). — Fl. Mag., III, t. 192. — 
Warn. Sel. Orch., ser. I, t. 10. — Reichenbachia, ser. 1, 1, p. gt, t. 41 (et var. alba); ser. 2, I, p- 39, t. 18 
(var. armeniaca). 
Maxillaria Skinneri BATEM. ex LINDL. Bot. Reg., XXVI (1840), p. 48; id., XXVIII, Misc., p. 10. — BATEM, 
Orch. Mex. et Guat., t. 35. 
M. virginalis Hort., ex WILLIAMS Orch. Gr, Man., ed. 6, ‘p. 381. 
Var. purpurea. Varietas petalis roseo-purpureis. 
Var. purpurea Hort., GARNIER in Fourn. des Orch., IV, p. 24. 
umerous varieties of the beautiful Lycaste Skinneri have at various times 
appeared, and received distinctive names. Its variability has been 
observed from the date of its introduction, now half a century ago, 
and some twenty years later a writer in the Gardeners’ Chronicle remarked that 
the species seemed about to have as great a future as the tulip. There is, however, 
this essential difference, that the Lycaste has not yet become a florist’s flower. 
The varieties known exist in a wild state, and have flowered out of the various 
importations that have been made. No one has yet commenced raising the plant 
systematically from seed, with a view to improving it by selecting the best 
varieties, though there seems no particular reason why this should not be 
attempted. 
The handsome variety here figured is characterised by its large and well- 
formed flowers, pale rose sepals, which contrast strongly with the dark rose- 
purple petals, and its cream-white lip, with only a few rose-coloured Spots on 
the margins of the side lobes. It was exhibited at a meeting of the Orchidéenne, 
of Brussels, in March last, by two different exhibitors, M. Poursarx, of Mons, 
and M. pu Trev pvE Trrponcx, of Malines, to each of whom a First-class 
Diploma of Honour was awarded. It is a very handsome variety. 
It may be compared with the varieties nigro-rubra (FI. Mag., Nl. Se, & ae 
fig. 2) and Reginae (Orchid Album, VI, t. 238); both of which, however, differ 
in having a maroon-crimson lip. The variety superba (Fl. Mag., t. 24) has a 
ete 
Ut 
