September 7, 1912 



H R T I C U L T U H I-: 



341 



Masdevall'as 



BOTA 



The genus Masdevallia forms a distinct and very in- 

 teresting section of the great orchid family. They differ 

 considerably from other orchids in the shape of their 

 flowers; the petals and the lip, which are usually the 

 n:ost attractive part in an orchid flower, are here very 

 much reduced and in some instances completely hidden 

 away in the tube of the sepals by the dorsal sepal turn- 

 ing down, thus concealing the inner whorl of the flower 

 very effectively. The beautiful M. ignea is a good exaju- 

 ple. In the curious M. bclla the petals are small but 

 not concealed while the pure white pendulous lip con- 

 trasts very nicely with the dusky looking sepals, which 

 with their long tails remind one of a brownie. M. 

 Teitchiana, M. Hariwana and M. coccinia are amongst 

 the brightest colored orchids I know of and they always 

 attract the attention of visitors. M. Veitchiana is 

 briglit orange scarlet, densely set with short woolly 

 glands which are tipped with rich purple; this changes 

 the color of the flower when looking at it from different 

 angles, reminding one of changeable silk. The flowers 

 of M. liarryana ai'c brilliant purple or magenta with a 

 white eye and those of M. coccinia, intense scarlet or 

 Vermillion with a purple sheen similar to that in M. 

 Veitchiana. M. tovarensis (see cover illustration) is a 

 very attractive dwarf-growing species with pure white 

 flowers which usually grow in pairs. This latter flowers 



Masdevallia Veitchiana 



in midwinter and would be very serviceable for Christ- 

 mas. The other varieties mentioned above flower dur- 

 ing spring and early summer. Their flowers last several 

 weeks in good condition and are pioduccd at intervals 

 for a long time. 



It is a pity that these lovely orchids are not more gen- 

 erally grown. They are easy to grow and can be readily 

 increased by dividing the plants. They inhabit the 

 mountainous regions of tropical America from Peru to 

 Mexico, a few being found in Brazil and Guiana, and 

 tlierefore require cool-house treatment all the year 

 around. They must never he allowed to suffer for want 

 of water as thev have no pseudo-bulbs in which to store 

 up moisture. In hot weather they must be shaded Cjuite 

 lieavily, else they will soon suffer: a sharp lookout for 

 tiirips nrast lie kept as these are very fond of them and 

 Mill soon disfigure the leaves if allowed to get a foot- 

 liold. An occasional fumigating with some good insecti- 

 cide and frequent syringing on all favorable occasions 

 will keep tlicse pests away ; prevention is better than 

 cure, so don't wait until the thrips have established them- 

 selves before fumigating. Osmunda fibre and .a little 

 sphagnum moss furnishes a good compost for them to 

 grow in. M. bella and others of the Chimera section 

 should be grown, in small pans, suspended from the roof 

 on account of their pendulous flowers. The others are 

 liest grown in connuon flowor pots. 



Masdevallia bella 



