98 COOL ORCHID GROWING. 



M. spectabilis, for example. Flower- steins erect, from twelve 

 to eighteen inches long, bearing fropa five to ten flowers three 

 to four inches across. Segals oblong, pale yellow, barred 

 with chestnut brown, not unlike some Odontoglots; lip 

 convolute, white, with a lilac or purple blotch on the disc. 

 The clinandrium, or margin of the anther-bed, is laciniate, or 

 rather fimbriate, in the same way as in Trichopilia. This 

 plant flowers about October, and lasts for two or three weeks 

 in beauty. 



*a. M, Candida grandiflora. — This is a fine variety, having 

 larger and brighter coloured blotches on its flowers. It grows 

 vigorously in a cool or intermediate house along with many of 

 the Cattleyas. 



*M. Clowesii (Brazil, 1840).— Pseudo bulbs from five to 

 seven inches long, tapering upwards, two-leaved ; leaves from 

 twelve to sixteen inches long. Flower-stems from one to two 

 feet high, bearing from five to fifteen large flowers, three or four 

 inches across ; sepals and petals oblong, one and a half to 

 two inches long, half an inch broad, of a deep yellow colour, 

 barred with chestnut brown. Lip white, with a violet blotch 

 across the centre. It is a striking plant when well grown, 

 suitable for autumn shows. The white lip of this and one or 

 two other species changes to a yellow colour after the flowers 

 have been expanded some time. 



*a. M. Cloivesii major, — This is a garden variety, having 

 larger flowers. 



*M. Begnelli (Brazil). — A very delicately coloured species, 

 and generally considered one of the best in the genus. In 

 habit it is like a weak variety of M. Clowesii, and the flowers 

 are borne several together on an erect spike in the same manner ; 

 but the flowers are far more chaste, having pure white sepals, 

 and petals an inch long, and a white lip, the centre of which is 



