MASDEVALLIA CAUDATA,. 
one by Dr. H. Karsten, of Berlin, drawn, he informs me, in its native habitat—the 
mountains of Bogota—trom freshly gathered flowers, and published in his splendid work 
* Flora Colombize ” (1862-9), vol. IL, plate CLITL. This specimen is exactly identical 
with the plant now generally known as Masderallia Shuttleworthii, a name conferred 
upon it in 1875 by Professor Reichenbach, who was perhaps—judging from a description 
of MW. caudata published by him in Bonplandia IT. (1854), p. 833—under the impression 
that the two were distinet species. Tle here describes the colour of the sepals as green 
and that of the tails violet, stating the habitat to be Caracas, a locality in which the true 
M. caudata is hardly likely to occur. Some years later, however, he appears to have 
decided that J. caudate Lindl. was identical with his WW. Shattleworthii, and, apparently 
reluctant to abandon the latter mame, he called the plant in IS8s J/. eandata 
Shuttleworthii. 
Wild plants frequently attain a greater size than those flowering in cultivation, 
specimens larger than that here represented having been found by Consul Lehmann on 
the Savana de Bogota, where the plant forms large thick tufts upon the trees of the 
western slopes. 
A variation occurs in individual plants in the number of the crimson stripes of the 
dorsal sepal, some flowers having five. some seven, and some nine stripes. This difference 
is not due to any variation in the number of the nerves, but to the bifurcation or non- 
bifurcation, generally near the base, of one or both of the two lateral nerves. 
Fig. 6 of the accompanying Plate represents the varicty named by Reichenbach 
ranthocorys—VycNow-helmet—which appeared in 1882 in the collection of Sir Trevor 
Lawrence. 
Several hybrids have been raised between JZ. caudata and other species, of which 
one of the prettiest is WU. Geleniana Rehb. f. (Gard. Chron. 1887, pt. LL. p. 586), raised 
by Messrs. Sander, of St. Albans, between J/. caudata and WW. wanthing The dorsal 
sepal is orange-yellow, with numerous small crimson spots, and the lateral sepals pale 
pink tinged with vellow, and having some of the small transverse spots so remarkable in 
M. caudata. The tails are slender, about 3 inches long, aud bright orange-yellow, 
VM. caudata-Estrade Rolle (Gard. Chron, 1889, pt. L, p. 714) isa livbrid raised by 
Mr. eden for Mr. Veiteh from JZ. candata and M. Estrada. The dorsal sepal is rose- 
purple, yellowish at the base, the lateral sepals soft violet-purple, paler at the apes. The 
tails are about 2 inches Jong, orange-yellow. 
M. Courtanidiana Rebb. f. (Gard. Chron, 1889, pt. L, p. 200) was raised by Mr. 
Norman Cookson, of Oakwood, Wylam-on-Tyne, from JZ. resca and WW. camdata, "The 
dorsal sepal and tail are light brownish, and the Jateral sepals light rose-colour. 
Consul Lehmann contributes the following information : 
MV. caudata grows upon oaks and other trees and shrubs. always near the eround, in dense and vers 
damp woods or forests on the northern, western, and southern slopes of the Savanna de Bowota 2 and alse 
on the western declivities of the Paramo de Santi Rosa and Sumapaz, inthe Province of Cundinaieres, at 
an elevation of 2.000 to 2,500 metres (6.500—8.125 feet). Plants with the Jargest and aost finely 
coloured flowers are 
found chictiv on the descent from tie Montana de Subaté to Fusngasues. and slone 
Tequendama, the same locality visited by Goudot, and where he probably found: his 
the Salto de 
specimens. 
The annual mean temperature of the habitat of . caudate is between 14> and 16> Centigrade Co 
37° to G1° Fahrenheit), and it flowers from February to May. Shade and constant moistare are essential 
to the development of this species. 
The variety zanthocorys is wost abundant in the woods of Suprute, Pacho and Veragus Grande. op 
the western declivities of the western mountains of Zipaquira. about ninety miles north of Bogota 
