Tab. 5739. 



MASDEVALLIA Veitchiana. 

 Mr. VeitcKs Masdevallia. 



Nat. Ord. Orchidej:. — G-ynandria Monandria. 

 Gen. Char. {Vide supra, Tab. 5476.) 



Masdevallia Veitchiana ; foliis lineari-oblongis obtusiusculis, pedunculis 

 gracilibus folio duplo longioribus supra inediatn bracteatis unifloris, 

 bracteis elongatis vaginantibus, flore majusculo rubro-aurantiaco, 

 sepalis in tubum campanulatum connatis, supremo late ovato longe 

 caudato-acuminato, Literalibus majoribus late ovatia obliquis abrupte 

 angustatis incurvis, petalis iuclusis lineari-oblougis obtusis albis, labello 

 lineari-oblongo apice recurvo subacuto ecristato, eolumna? margiue 

 integro. 



Masdevallia Veitcbiana. Reichh.fd. mss. (ex Hort. Veitch.). 



By far the most striking species of Masdevallia hitherto 

 figured, discovered by the late Mr. Pearce in the Cordillera 

 of Peru whilst collecting for the Messrs. Veitch, with whom 

 it flowered last month in their coolest orchid-house. In 

 point of colour it is not only one of the most beautiful, but 

 most singular of Orchids ; for the vivid hue of the flower is 

 due to the whole inner surface of the sepals being studded 

 with minute papilla? of a brilliant cadmium-yellow colour ; 

 these are largest and most crowded when the colour is 

 deepest. 



Descr. Stems densely tufted. Leaves four to six inches 

 long, by one broad, narrow linear-oblong, rather contracted 

 at the base, hardly acute, coriaceous, bright green. Scape a 

 foot high, erect, slender, terete, with two or more appressed, 

 narrow, elongate, sheathing bracts, the upper placed far 

 below the flower. Germen terete, deeply grooved. Perianth 

 three inches across. Sepals connate into a bell-shaped tube, 

 of a brilliant orange-red colour, internal surface papillose 

 and glistening, external pale and glossy ; free portion of 

 sepals broadly ovate, suddenly contracted to long points, the 



NOVEMBER 1st, 1868. 



