Illustrations from Curtis's botanical magazine
William Curtis
William Curtis created his famous Botanical Magazine in 1787. It continues to this day, but now published by Kew.
His idea was that it should provide colour botanic illustrations and scientific descriptions of the new exotic plants flooding into the UK.
Between 1827 and 1845 there were 18 Orchids from the Liverpool Botanic Gardens, which shows our importance back then.
1827 Maxillaria parkeri
Mr Parker's Maxillaria
Curtis:
This is a very pretty species of Maxillaria, and very distinct from any hitherto described.
It was discovered by our friend Charles S. Parker in Demerara, and by him sent to the Liverpool Botanic Garden, where Mr. Shepherd informs us, it flowers readily (treated in the usual manner of the Parasitical Orchideae) and continues a long time in blossom.
1827 Oncidium pulchellum
Elegant Oncidium
Curtis:
A native of Demerara, where it was discovered growing upon trees, by C. S. Parker.
Plants sent by him to the Liverpool Botanic Garden, which flowered in June 1827.
Synonym: Tolumnia pulchella
1828 Zygopetalum rostratum
Rostrate Zygopetalum
Curtis:
The credit of introducing this fine plant from Demerara to the Liverpool Botanic Garden, is due to our excellent friend C. S. Parker. It flowered in October 1827.
Synonym: Zygopetalum labiosum
1831 Dendrobium speciosum
Great Dendrobium
Curtis:
This is a New Holland [Australian] plant, that has been long cultivated in our stoves; but has rarely produced blossoms.
In the present season a noble flowering specimen was communicated to me from the Liverpool Botanic Garden, by the Messrs. Shepherds.
The plant was named by Sir James E. Smith, in his "Exotic Botany".
The plant from which our figure is taken was sent by Mr. Fraser
to the Liverpool Garden.
1831 Coryanthes maculata
Spotted-Lipped Coryanthes
Curtis:
It is a native of the trunks of trees in the forests of Demerara, where it was discovered by James Ankers and communicated to C. S. Parker of Liverpool, who presented it with many rarities from the same fertile country to the Liverpool Botanic Garden.
It blossomed in the stove of that collection in the month of June 1831, and was sent to us by our often-mentioned friends, the Messrs. Shepherds.
1833 Bletia acutipetala
Sharp-petaled Bletia
Curtis:
Mr. Henry Shepherd has correctly considered this as distinct both from Bletia verecunda and Bretia florida.
Independent of the pale colour of the flower, the segments of the perianth are all remarkably acute, and the outer and lower ones are always furnished with a strong central lamina. The bracteas, too, are, comparatively large, and the scape is very tall, and divided upwards into long branches.
Bretia verecunda and Bletia florida, its nearest allies, are natives of the West Indies; this of South Carolina, whence it was directly received at the Liverpool Botanic Garden.
Synonym: Bletia purpurea
1833 Gongora atropurpurea
Dark FLOWERED GONGORA
This rare plant has been communicated by Messrs. Shepherds from the Liverpool Botanic Garden, where it was introduced by Charles Parker from Demerara.
It is evidently the same species as the G. atropurpurea figured in the Exotic Flora, from Trinidad, differing only in the somewhat paler and spotted flowers.
Named in honour of Antonio Caballeroy Gongora, a Spaniard, and friend of Mutis.
1834 Epidendrum nocturnum
Night-Smelling Epidendrum
Though a native of Martinique, Jamaica, and, probably, many other of the West Indian Islands, it does not appear to have been long introduced to our gardens, since it has no place in the Hortus Kewensis; and it has been figured only in Loddiges’ Botanical Cabinet of all our Botanical periodical publications.
At the Glasgow Botanic Garden, we received plants of it from Messrs. SHEPHERDS of Liverpool, which flowered in November 1833.
1834 Bletia shepherdii
Deep-purple-flowered Bletia
This beautiful plant is a native of Jamaica, having been received from that country by the Messrs. SHEPHERD at the Liverpool Garden, where it has been long cultivated.
From Wentworth Gardens I have likewise received fine flowering specimens of the same plant, which Mr. Cooper obtained from Liverpool, and always retaining its characteristic form and rich and deep purple colour.
I am anxious it should bear the name of the Messrs. Shepherd, uncle and nephew, who have cultivated the Orchideous as well as other plants with so much success, and who have paid particular attention to the species of the present Genus.
Synonym: Bletia florida
1834 Epidendrum bicornutum
Two-Horned Epidendrum
I am indebted to Mr. Joseph Cooper, of Wentworth Gardens, where it produced its large and highly fragrant blossoms in April 1834.
A native of Trinidad. To that zealous and excellent cultivator, it was sent by the Messrs. SHEPHERD, of Liverpool, who introduced it to the stoves of Europe.
Synonym: Caularthron bicornutum
1835 Catasetum purum
Spotless Catasetum
This is one of the-best-characterized of all the Cataseta, and although introduced to the Liverpool Botanic Garden, as mentioned in the "Exotic Flora" more than eight-years ago, it appears to be still a rarity in our collections.
So as far as I know, it is confined to two of the gardens of Liverpool which rank high in the Orchideous department, namely, the Botanic Garden and that of Charles Horsfall, who also imported it from Brazil.