266 THE ORCHID REVIEW. [SEPTEMBER, 1915. 
is said to have been purchased about six years previously, at Stevens’ 
Rooms, Covent Garden, out of a small importation from the hills of 
Bombay. Mr. Schréder then remarked: ‘‘ My attention was drawn to it 
by its very distinct habit, and the remains of a flower-spike from every 
leaf. We have flowered it now for three years, and each year finer than 
the preceding. It appears to be a hybrid between Aérides crispum and 
maculosum, and on that account I value it the more, as I do not think 
it is likely to be imported again.” The remark is significant, for at that 
time no artificially-raised hybrid Orchid was in existence, and the date was 
at least two years before the appearance of Phalznopsis intermedia, 
hitherto considered to be the earliest recognised tropical natural hybrid 
Orchid. Henfrey himself remarked: ‘This plant seems to bear a close 
resemblance to A. maculosum, from which it can hardly be specificially 
distinct, although in the shape of the lateral teeth of the lip, and in the 
bifid tubercle between them, it appears to differ slightly. Considering the 
much greater differences between the other species we prefer to regard this 
as a variety.” Some time later A. maculosum Schrcederi was also well 
figured in Pescatorea (t. 33). 
An interesting addition was made to its history by Mr. John Day, who, 
in June, 1870, made a painting of the flowers (Orch. Draw., xv. t. 71). He 
then remarked: “One of the most beautiful varieties of this exquisite 
genus in cultivation. It differs in the general habit and appearance of the 
plant from A. maculosum (of which it is considered to be a variety) very 
strikingly. It is a far taller and more vigorous plant, attaining to the 
height of a foot or eighteen inches, and bearing 30 or 40 leaves. It is much 
freer in growth, and much more easy to cultivate. All the plants, and 
there are many in cultivation, are said to have been propagated from a 
single specimen bought at Stevens’ by Mr. Schréder, which he had the 
discernment to pick out of an importation from Bombay. He has told me 
he made £300 or £400 by it. It is a plant which always maintains its 
prices, small plants always fetching £20 at Stevens’, at the least, and when 
stronger £40 or £60.” 
The idea of its being a natural hybrid is fairly borne out by the facts, 
for, though most resembling A. maculosum in floral details, it is much 
nearer to A. crispum in its elongated stem. Unfortunately, no specimen 1s 
available for a more exact comparison. The two species in question are 
known to grow together, and the late Dr. Theodore Cooke collected both 
at Mahableshwar, in the Deccan. If this view is correct, the name A. 
Schroederi, under which it was known in gardens (Allg. Gartenz., 1855, P- 
226), and as which it was subsequently figured (Gard. Chron., 1880, i. PP- 
492, 493, fig. 87), is the correct one. Through the courtesy of the Editor 
of the Gardeners’ Chronicle, we are able to reproduce this figure. 
