MASDEVALLIA. 289 
distinct from all other cultivated kinds. The leaves are 
erect, fleshy, shining green, from 6in. to gin. long, rin. 
wide, narrowed to a stalk 2in. long, blunt and recurved at 
the apex. The scape is erect, stout, angled, one-flowered ; 
flowers gin. long, including the tails; upper sepal small, 
concave, round, yellow and brown, terminated by a long, 
Fig. 69. Masdevallia ephippium 
(much reduced). 
reflexed, slender, yellow tail; lower sepals united, and 
forming a concave, bowl-shaped, ribbed body of irregular 
shape, Iin. across, deep rufous brown, the tails joined at 
the base, and then curving away to a length of from gin. 
to 5in. The plant blossoms in spring, and. requires the 
treatment recommended for M. Chimzra, except that it 
thrives better in pots than in baskets. It is a very 
U 
