Tas. 5990. 
MASDEVALLIA Linpent. 
Native of Central America. 
Nat. Ord. Orcumem.—Tribe, PLEUROTHALLIDE. 
Genus, Maspevatiia, Ruiz and Pavon ; (Lindl. Gen. and Sp. Orchid. 
: p. 192). 
Maspevatiia Lindent; caulibus fasciculatis, foliis longe petiolatis crasse 
coriaceis anguste obovato-spathulatis enervibus retusis in petiolum 
antice profunde sulecatum longe attenuatis coriaceis, scapis gracilibus 
folio longioribus flexuosis, floribus decurvis, sepalis sanguineis inferne 
in tubum subcylindricum decurvum stramineum basi equabile connatis, 
dorsale e basi triangulari elongato-subulato reflexo erecto lateralibus 
maximis semi-ovatis attenuato-acuminatis, petalis parvis lineari-oblongis 
emarginatis basi uno latere auriculatis, labello unguiculato lingueforme 
basi cordato integerrimo, columna exalata, androclinio integerrimo. 
Maspevantia Lindeni, André in Jllust. Hortic. vol. xvii. p- 226, cum Ie. 
This is another of that remarkable group of Masdevallias 
which have attracted so much attention amongst botanists 
and horticulturists of late, from the singular form and 
colouring of their sepals, and of which J. Veitchiana 
Reichb, f. (Tab. nost. 5739) and J. igaea (Tab. nost. 5962) 
are examples. All these present a wonderful similarity in the 
form and structure of the petals, lip, and column, which are 
Concealed in the tube of the perianth, and appear as if 
reduced in size and suppressed as to function in favour of 
the three outer sepals, which, by their gorgeous colouring, 
if not by their form also, no doubt attract insects to fecun- 
date the species by cross fertilization. Of this type many 
More species have yet to be imported, especially from N ew 
Grenada. Altogether upwards of fifty species of this sin- 
gular. genus exist in our. Herbaria at Kew, | the genus 
extending from Cuba and Mexico to Rio de Janeiro. 
SEPTEMBER Isr, 1872. 
