MASDEVALLIA CHIMERA Rchb. f. 
Maspevatiia Cnimera Rehb. f. Gard. Chron. 1872, p. 463 ; 1875, pt. 1, p. 40, fig. 5; pt. I 233 
and 2585 ISSI, pt. I, p. 463; pt. IL, p. 112. fig. 26, also p. 236; 1884, pt. 1, re! ee 
fir. 141, p. 741; Florist and Pomol. 1873, p. 2; Belg. Hort. XXIII. (1873), p. 355; XXV, (R75) : 
p- 820; XXVIL (1876), p. 116; XXXIL (1882), p. 313, t. XI; Mustr. Hort. 1873 p 25, 
t. 117-118 CM. nycterina); Xen. Orch. IL. (1874), p. 195, t. 185 and 186, fig. I.; Bot. Mac: t. 6159 
(1875); Floral Mag. n. s. 1875, t. 149; Linea XLI. (1877), p. 8; De Puvdt, Les Orch. (1880) 
p. 285, pl. XXILL (CM. nycterina) ; Revue Hort. 1881, p. 130, with fig. ; Orchidophile (Godetoy), 
vol. I. (ISS1-3), p. 78, with fig. ; Orch. Album (Warn. et Will.), V. (1886), t. 203 ; Garienfions 
(Regel), ISS9, p. 617, t. 1311; Veitch Manual Orch. pt. V. (1889), p. 30. 
Leaf S or 10 inches long and 14 to 2 inches wide, oblanceolate, sometimes plicate, carinate at the 
back. apex acutely tridenticulate, bright green, narrowing below into a pale green petiole with brown 
membranous sheaths at the base. 
Pedunele 9 to 18 inches long, terete, wiry, erect, lateral, or descending from the base of the petiole, 
dark green or dull purple, with many appressed bracts, flowers two to six, opening in succession, each 
falling off before the expansion of the next, the peduncle lengthening as each bud developes, flowering 
bracts oblong-ovate, acutely apiculate, sheathing below, bright green. 
Ovary about 3 inch long, with six rounded angles, dull green or purplish. 
Sepals: dorsal sepal united to the lateral sepals for nearly 4 inch; lateral sepals cohering for about 
14 inch. deeply curved at the back ; all ovate for 2 or 24 inches and terminating in slender tapering dark 
purple tails 4 to 10 inches long; many-nerved, central nerves prominent on the outer side; various shades 
of primrose, cream, or ochre yellow; stained and spotted with crimson-purple, more or Jess bright, and 
thickly stndded with coarse tapering hairs, the spots and hairs hecoming very small near the centre. 
Petals i, inch long, spathulate, the apex divided into two rounded lobes, between which is a mass of 
shining papille, white and crimson or purple. 
Lip about # inch Jong. the basal part fleshy, grooved, shining, united to the foot of the column by a 
Hexible hinge. the anterior part saccate, with one or three central longitudinal keels, more or less 
prominent. with numerous rays diverging towards the margin, where they terminate in strong incurved 
teeth ; white, pinkish, or pale yellow, more or less tinged and shaded with rust-colour. 
Column rather longer than the petals. pale yellow or whitish, apex minutely denticulate, foot pale pink. 
hy (eee LLLA CHIM-ERA was discovered in March 1870, by Roezl, at Choco, in 
the Western Andes of Colombia, 7,400 feet above the level of the sea, and from 
one badly dried flower and a coloured sketeh sent by him, Professor Reichenbach named 
the plant. No living specimens were introduced until some time afterwards, the first 
which flowered in cultivation being apparently those sent to Reichenbach by Mr. Bull 
Explanation of Plate, drawn from a plant at Newbattle Abbey : 
Fig. 1, petal, lip. and column, in natural position ;—la, section of ovary ;—2, petal, inner side ;— 
2a. side of petal ;—3, lip —4, column ;—da, apex of column 5 a// enlarged ;—. apex and section of leaf ; 
—6. ripe seed-capsule trom: wild plant ; watural size. 
