# Event Details - **Event Name**: The Lost Orchid | Hunting An Icon in the Linnean Society Archives - **Event Start and End Date**: Tue, 18 Nov, 2025 at 06:00 pm – Tue, 18 Nov, 2025 at 08:15 pm - **Event Description**: A mystery, a flower, and a forgotten archive: uncover the wild tale of the orchid that sparked a Victorian obsession.About this EventThis is an in-person event only. There is no live stream.(The talk will be followed by a book sale/signing and drinks reception in our historic library, where a paid bar will be available.)In 1818, a curious root arrived in a small English town, tucked—seemingly by accident—in a packing case mailed from Brazil. The amateur botanist who cultivated it soon realized that he had something remarkable on his hands: an exceptionally rare orchid never before seen on British shores.It arrived just as “orchid mania” was sweeping across Europe and North America, driving a vast plant trade that catered to wealthy private patrons as well as the fast-growing middle classes eager to display exotic flowers at home. Dubbed Cattleya labiata, the striking purple-and-crimson bloom quickly became one of the most coveted flowers on both continents.But where, exactly, did it come from, and how did it arrive in the first place? Even the Victorians wondered; “it is extremely probably that we shall never hear the whole of the facts,” mourned a journalist, because “many of the links in the chain of evidence have been lost.”In this talk, Sarah Bilston will discuss the mystery of the lost orchid, subject of her recent book – and how the Linnean’s archives offered crucial clues to its rediscovery. is Professor and Chair of the Department of English Literature at Trinity College, Hartford (CT). She is the author of The Awkward Age in Women’s Popular Fiction, 1850–1900: Girls and the Transition to Womanhood (Oxford University Press, 2004); The Promise of the Suburbs: A Victorian History in Literature and Culture (Yale University Press, 2019); and two novels (with HarperCollins). Her new book on nineteenth-century plant-hunting, The Lost Orchid: A Story of Victorian Plunder and Obsession, was published by Harvard University Press in May 2025 and earned a Kirkus starred review.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ConcessionsPlease buy the concession ticket if you are any of the below:65 years of age, or overUnder 26 years of ageCurrently in receipt of UK government benefit (including, but not limited to, Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Housing Benefit, and Universal Credit).Currently in full-time education.-----------------------------------------------------------This is an in-person event at the Linnean Society of London on Piccadilly, London, only.If you'd like to stay updated about our events programme, and other news, - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/london/the-lost-orchid-|-hunting-an-icon-in-the-linnean-society-archives/100001651258601929 - **Event Categories**: art, literary-art, workshops - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 9.38, max: 11.55, currency: GBP ## Event venue details - **city**: London - **state**: EN - **country**: United Kingdom - **location**: The Linnean Society of London - **lat**: 51.5084988 - **long**: -0.13921110000001136 - **full address**: The Linnean Society of London, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, United Kingdom ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: The Lost Orchid | Hunting An Icon in the Linnean Society Archives - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/7218611ed20aba409d46673683e11493f4263c1956545badc82d8afa7e9f8f09-rimg-w1200-h600-dc7a8d5f-gmir.jpg?v=1762299096 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is The Lost Orchid | Hunting An Icon in the Linnean Society Archives being held? - **A:** The Lost Orchid | Hunting An Icon in the Linnean Society Archives takes place on Tue, 18 Nov, 2025 at 06:00 pm to Tue, 18 Nov, 2025 at 08:15 pm at The Linnean Society of London, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, United Kingdom. - **Q**: How much do tickets cost for The Lost Orchid | Hunting An Icon in the Linnean Society Archives? - **A:** Ticket prices for The Lost Orchid | Hunting An Icon in the Linnean Society Archives range from GBP 9 to GBP 12 depending on the ticket type. Here's a full breakdown of available ticket types:Ticket TypePriceAvailabilityGeneral Admission (Non Member)GBP 12 + GBP 2 feeAvailableMember (Fellow, Associate or Student)GBP 9 + GBP 1 feeAvailableConcession (check eligibility in event details)GBP 10 + GBP 1 feeAvailable - **Q**: Who is organizing The Lost Orchid | Hunting An Icon in the Linnean Society Archives? - **A:** The Lost Orchid | Hunting An Icon in the Linnean Society Archives is organized by Linnean Society of London. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** The Lost Orchid | Hunting An Icon in the Linnean Society Archives is ideal for learners, working professionals, and skill-builders looking to gain hands-on knowledge and practical expertise in a focused, interactive setting. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in London, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If The Lost Orchid | Hunting An Icon in the Linnean Society Archives sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "The Lost Orchid | Hunting An Icon in the Linnean Society Archives", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/7218611ed20aba409d46673683e11493f4263c1956545badc82d8afa7e9f8f09-rimg-w1200-h600-dc7a8d5f-gmir.jpg?v=1762299096", "startDate": "2025-11-18", "endDate": "2025-11-18", "url": "https://allevents.in/london/the-lost-orchid-|-hunting-an-icon-in-the-linnean-society-archives/100001651258601929", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "The Linnean Society of London", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "Burlington House, Piccadilly", "postalCode": "W1J 0BF", "addressLocality": "London", "addressRegion": "EN", "addressCountry": "GB" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "51.5084988", "longitude": "-0.13921110000001136" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "A mystery, a flower, and a forgotten archive: uncover the wild tale of the orchid that sparked a Victorian obsession.", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-04-08", "availabilityEnds": "2025-11-18", "validFrom": "2026-04-08", "lowPrice": "9.38", "highPrice": "11.55", "price": "9.38", "url": "https://allevents.in/london/the-lost-orchid-|-hunting-an-icon-in-the-linnean-society-archives/100001651258601929" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-04-08", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-04-08", "url": "https://allevents.in/london/the-lost-orchid-|-hunting-an-icon-in-the-linnean-society-archives/100001651258601929", "price": "11.55", "name": "General Admission (Non Member)" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-04-08", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-04-08", "url": "https://allevents.in/london/the-lost-orchid-|-hunting-an-icon-in-the-linnean-society-archives/100001651258601929", "price": "9.38", "name": "Member (Fellow, Associate or Student)" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "availabilityStarts": "2026-04-08", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-04-08", "url": "https://allevents.in/london/the-lost-orchid-|-hunting-an-icon-in-the-linnean-society-archives/100001651258601929", "price": "10.46", "name": "Concession (check eligibility in event details)" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Linnean Society of London", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/linnean-society-of-london/22533325", "description": "The Linnean Society of London is the world’s oldest active biological society. Founded in 1788, the Society takes its name from the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) whose botanical, zoological and library collections have been in its keeping since 1829. As it moves into its third century the Society continues to play a central role in the documentation of the world’s flora and fauna – as Linnaeus himself did – recognising the continuing importance of such work to biodiversity conservation.Members are drawn from all walks of life, and represent the full range of professional scientists and amateurs alike with an interest in natural history. The Fellowship is international and includes world leaders in each branch of biology who use the Society's premises and publications to communicate new advances in their fields." } ] } ] ```