OOb ORCHID-GROWER S MANUAL. 



as much in the light and as near the glass as possible, but 

 shaded from the sun, and water should be freely given to them. 



M, amabilis, Rchb. /. — A very pretty species, forming 

 dense tufts of obovate-oblong obtuse emarginate leaves, about 

 five inches long, on terete channelled footstalks which ai-e 

 closely sheathed at the base, and one-flowered peduncles 

 nearly twice the height of the leaves, bearing flowers of which 

 the perianth tube is orange -carmine above, white tinged with 

 pink beneath, the lobes being of a bright rosy carmine, 

 the upper one triangular, terminating in an erect filiform 

 appendage (tail), and the side ones broader oblique ovate de- 

 curved, and ending in similar appendages. This is a very free- 

 blooming species, and although somewhat small-flowered it is 

 nevertheless very pretty in a mass. The figure quoted below 

 represents a variety which MM. Linden and Andre call M. 

 amabilis lineata, which has the lateral sepals marked by 

 three curving purple veins, meeting at the apex, and there 

 are also three straight purple lines on the narrower dorsal 

 lobe. — Peru. 

 ¥ia.—Illust. Hort, 3 ser., 1. 196. 



M. BackllOllsiaiia. — See Masdevallia Chimera Back- 



HOUSIANA. 



M. bella, Rchb.f. — A very beautiful and distinct species of 

 the Chimcera group, discovered by Mr. Wallis. The leaves 

 are densely tufted cuneate-oblong, with truncate bracts 

 sheathing the stalkless base. The flowers are produced upon 

 drooping peduncles, and on the inner surface are yellow, irregu- 

 larly and densely spotted with purphsh brown on the dorsal 

 sepal and the outer half of the lateral sepals, the tails being 

 from three to four inches long, and also of deep purplish 

 brown ; the base of the dorsal sepal and the interior sides of 

 the lateral ones are ochre yellow ; the reniform clawed lip is 

 pure white, and the lamina entirely covered with radiating 

 lamellae. The exterior surface of the flowers is of a shining 

 dull deep pui'ple. It flowers during the autumn months. — 

 New Grenada, 8,000 feet elevation. 



'ElQ.— Floral Mag., 2 ser., t. 433 ; Gard. Chron., N.S., xiii. 756, figs. 131—2 ; 

 Id., xvi. 236, fig. 50; £elg. Hort., 1884, t. 3. 



M. Boddaertii, Linden. — This species is named after Dr. 

 Boddaert, of Ghent, a great enthusiast amongst Orchids. It 



