BARKERIA SKINNERI, var. MAJOR. 
(Mr. Skinner' 8 Barkeria, large Variety). 
Class. Order. 
GYNANDRIA. MONANDRIA. 
Natural Order. 
ORCHID ACEiE. 
(Orchids, Veg.King.) 
Generic Character. — Sepals and Petals equal, free, 
membranous, very spreading. Labellum smooth, 
entire, naked, cuneate and pointed, pressed close to the 
column. Column petal-shaped. Anthers four-celled, 
fleshy. Pollen-masses four, with as many ligulate, 
reflexed caudieula?, connate in pairs. 
Specific Character — Plant an epiphyte. Stems 
cylindrical and leafy, growing nine inches or more 
high, and terminating in a long slender raceme of 
flowers. Leaves lanceolate, acute, fleshy, four to six 
inches long. Raceme loose, many-flowered. Flowers 
of a fine lilac-purple. Sepals spreading, linear-lan- 
ceolate, acuminate. Petals spreading, ovate-lanceolate, 
acute. Labellum ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, with a 
yellow fleshy crest, five-keeled. Column with two 
rounded wings. 
Synonymes and Authorities. — Barkeria Skinneri, 
Lindley, in Bot. Reg., v. xxvi., 81 Descrip. Epidendrum 
Skinneri, Batem. MSS. in Bot. Reg., t. 1881. Epiden- 
drum Skinneri, Hooker, in Bot. Mag., t. 3951. 
Variety Major. — Flower scape nearly two feet long, 
holding upwards of thirty flowers of a deep reddish - 
lilac purple, with stripes of bright gold colour down 
the lip. In habit it is much stronger, the foliage 
longer and double the breadth, apparently less delicate 
than the species, and in every way superior. 
The subject of our present plate is a beautiful variety of Barkeria Skinneri, 
which flowered in the extensive collection of Messrs. Loddiges, in November, 1847, 
and through whose kindness we were at that time permitted to make our drawing. 
The original species, which is perhaps better known by the name of Epidendrum 
Skinneri, is a native of Guatemala, where it was discovered and introduced by 
Mr. Skinner. It flowered in 1841, in the splendid collection of J. Bateman, Jun., 
Esq., by whom it received the name it bears in honour of its discoverer. 
We regret that we are unable to say who was the discoverer of B. Skinneri 
major, neither do we know the exact locality in which it was found. It is certainly 
a superior variety, and a very free bloomer, and with the following treatment will 
grow well. 
It requires, in common with other South American Orchids, the humid atmo- 
sphere and temperature of the Orchid-house, but, like B. Skinneri, it does not 
flourish if subjected to a very close and strong heat ; about 70° is sufficient during 
even the time of its most vigorous growth, and it should also be hung in some part 
of the house where it can daily receive a little air ; in its intermediate or flowering 
season, a lower temperature should be given, and during the time of its torpidity, 
should be kept quite cool and dry. 
VOL. XV. NO. CLX1X. B 
