flowered scapes spring from the base of the pseudobulbs, In the type species the 
large, oblong pointed sepals are bluish-white. In other forms they range from 
pale pink to deep mauve. The petals, which are much smaller, enfold the column, 
and are a deep rose-pink. The lip is white spotted with crimson. Flowers from 
Winter through to late Spring, the blooms lasting six to seven weeks. 
Variety alba.—Pure white, the centre of the lip being tinged with yellow. 
LYCASTE TRICOLOR. Native of Guatemala. 
Pseudobulbs, compressed and ovate and about 2 inches high, bear two or three 
deep green, lanceolate leaves. Flower scapes grow from the bases of the pseudo- 
bulbs and bear a single flower about 3 inches across. Sepals are oblong and spread- 
ing, light brown in colour, and somewhat recurved. Petals, smaller and broader 
towards the tips, are rosy-pink. The lip is smaller still, and is deep pink with a 
toothed margin. Flowers in late Summer and Autumn and lasts five weeks. 
BIFRENARIA TETRAGONA. Native of Brazil. 
The pear-shaped, tetragonal pseudobulbs each bear a single large, oblong-lanceolate, 
plaited leaf. The short scapes carry two or three flowers with broadly-ovate, 
pointed, green sepals and petals lined and blotched with brown. The lip is hollow 
and fleshy, white blotched with crimson near the tip on the underneath, and 
purple inside. Flowers appear in Summer and last for two months. They are 
very sweetly scented, 
MASDEVALTTA 
This charming and interesting genus of terrestrial orchids has been rather neglected 
in Queensland, and in Australia generally. Probably the reasons are that the 
majority of our local growers are comparatively recent beginners at orchid culture 
and naturally have concentrated on building up their collections from the more 
generally known and grown genera. Moreover, in Australia the South American 
orchids are not so easily obtainable as the native species from the Eastern tropical 
countries. Even in the case of Cattleyas and Laelias it is very rarely that plants 
of the less known species are offered for sale. Again, shipping transport between 
South America and this land is somewhat unreliable and tardy, so that the risk 
of loss in transport of South American orchids is relatively high. However, quite 
a number of the big range of species of Masdevallia are well worth owning, and 
as they grow very freely and flower well under suitable conditions, any opportunity 
of obtaining a few plants should not be missed. 
The plants grow in tufts and have bright green leaves which are strap-shaped in 
some species and spoon-shaped in others. The flowers are notable because the 
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