Tab. 6990. 

 MASDEVALLIA gibbeeosa. 



Native of New Grenada. 



Nat. Ord. Orchide^:. — Tribe Epidendre.e. 

 Genus Masdevallia, Ruiz 4" Po». ; {Benth.et Hooh.f. Gen. PL vol. iii. p. 492.) 



Masdetallia (Verrucosa}) giltberosa ; folio coriaceooblongo-obovato v. -lanceolato 

 obtuso in petiolum attenuate, pedunculo elongato gracili racenii rachi pedicellis 

 ovariisque verrucosis, raceino laxe paucifloro, bracteis appressis vaginantibus 

 truncatis membranaceis, pedicellis gracilibus apice decurvis multo brevioribus, 

 sepalis lateralibus e basibus connatis liberis borizontaliter patentibus obloogia 

 in caudas filit'ormes lamina carnosa flava rubro-punctata sequilongis productis, 

 dorsali galeato ascendente costato in caudam rubram multoties longiorem 

 erectam producto, petalis minutis oblique oblongis obtusis, labello incluso 

 obovato-oblongo margine serrulato lobis lateralibus angustis erosis terminali 

 parvo obcordato serrulato, columna gracili apice alata. 



M. gibberosa, Reichb.f. in Oard, Cliron. N. S. vol. v. (1876) p. 8. 



A very singular species, described by Eeichenbacli (in 

 1876) as the fourth of the section Verrucoses, but with the 

 sepals of the Echidna group, and the lip of the Verrucosa?. 

 It appears to be the only figured species of the section, the 

 others being M. verrucosa, Eeichb. f., M. Echidna, Reichb. f., 

 and M. ochthodes, Reichb. f., all natives of Venezuela. As 

 with other members of the genus, the floral characters are 

 very difficult of description, each member being bizarre in 

 form, position and direction. In the present species the 

 lip is especially puzzling to describe, and its structure is 

 not well shown in the accompanying di'awing. Reichenbach 

 says of it, " The minute lip is quite exquisite, and contrasts 

 very strongly with the plump broad rhomboid yellowish 

 petals," and in the Latin diagnosis he describes it as linear, 

 and as if divided into three members by two strictures, an 

 entire angled narrow hypo chile, a rounded serrate meso- 

 chile, with an oblique square lamella on each side, serrated 

 at the back, and a rounded serrate epichile. I have care- 

 fully dissected the lip of this plant, and have described 

 below its appearance, which differs a little from Reichen- 



ArKiL 1st, 1888. 



