MESOSPINIDIUM. 221 



M. sjjlendens, — A very handsome plant, deserving a place 

 in every collection ; in growth it is something like M. venusta^ 

 but more robust ; sepals and petals white ; lip orange, mar- 

 gined with rose. Native of Peru. 



M. Turnerii. — A very distinct and pretty species. The 

 pseudobulbs are short, with long broad leaves a foot high, of 

 a very dark green ; the flowers are of a rich cinnamon brown 

 and crimson, with a delicious fragrance. Blooms in May in 

 gi'eat profusion, and continues a long time in perfection. 



M. venusta, — This plant is one of the best of the genus, of 

 easy culture, blooming at different times of the year, and 

 continuing long in perfection. It has large showy white 

 flowers, the lip yellowish, with light red markings, and the 

 foliage is of a light green, about a foot high. There are two 

 varieties of this, one having the flowers larger and more pure 

 in colour than the other. This species lasts three or four 

 weeks in perfection. 



Mesospinidium. 



There are only two species belonging to this genus that are 

 worth growing, they require cool treatment, and should be 

 potted in a compost of peat and moss, giving them a liberal 

 supply of water during the gro^dng season. They are both 

 evergreen, and produce their flowers from the sides of the 

 bulbs. 



M. sangidneum. — This very pretty plant is a native of the 

 Peruvian Andes, and though known for many years, was 

 never brought in a living state to this country until recently. 

 In habit it resembles the Odoutoglossums. The flower spikes 

 are pendulous and branched ; the flowers are of a beautiful 

 waxy appearance, bright rose in colour, and produced in 

 summer and autumn, lasting several weeks in perfection. 



