MASDEVALLIA PACHYANTHA. 
Mr. Lekmann sends the following noite : 
Masdevallia pachyantha is restricted to the western slopes of the Central Andes of Popayiin and 
Pasto, from 1° to 3° north of the equator, at an elevation of 2,900 to 3,300 métres (9,425 to 10,725 fect). 
It grows on trees in the thick damp forests of the upper Andes, and also on walls of volcanic rocks form- 
ing the sides of steep ravines. With the exception, perhaps, of MZ. racemosa, it is the commonest of al] 
Masdevallias, sometimes entirely covering the trunks of trees from the ground up to a considerable height. 
I have observed it on the slopes of the Piramo de Moras, and on the Paramo de las Delicias and Guamicas, 
upon the volcano of Puracé, in great abundance on the Piramo de Barbillas, on the volcano of Tajwmbina, 
and in numerous other localities. 
M. pachyantha is a very variable species, and the flowers of plants found near Pasto are nearly double 
the size of those growing on the volcano of Purac¢é, and are heavily blotehed—not strenked—with dark 
purplish-brown. The largest plants and flowers come from the Piramo de Barbillas, and these finels 
developed specimens in all respects justify the name pachyantha (thick flower). Among the plants crow- 
ing on the Psramo de las Delicias and Guanicas there is a variety with rather small pale yellow flowers. 
The climate of the habitat of Mf. pachyantha is remarkable for its excessive and continual dianpness, 
with a clouded foggy atmosphere and extremely cold winds. There is only a short interval, from January 
until March, when little or no rain falls, and at this time instead of rain dense fogs prevail, rising just 
above the forests and enveloping them in constant mist and twilight. During the rest of the year there 
are heavy rains, with sharp east winds, the temperature often falling as low as 1° above zero Centigrade 
(33°.8 Fahrenheit). The average temperature is between 10° and 11°.5 Centigrade (50° and 41.8 
Fahrenheit). 
As a wild plant J/. puchyantha flowers most profusely, often lasting from September until May. 
