MASDEVALLIA COCCINEA. 
ASDEVALLIA COCCINEA was discovered about the year 1842 by Linden, 
flowering in April on the southern slopes of the mountains near Pamplona, in the 
Province of Santander, Colombia, at an elevation of 9,500 feet. In this region the mean 
‘temperature is 52° Fahrenheit. The first living plant imported into Europe was a small 
piece sent to Ghent in 1867 by Gustav Wallis, among a quantity of other Orchids from 
Colombia. This little unknown plant was treated with great care, and when it flowered 
in 1870, it was named Masdevallia Lindeni, and described as a new species by Mons. 
André in the “Illustration Horticole.” From time to time varieties of 17. coccinea were 
imported from different elevations and localities in the Eastern Cordilleras of Colombia, 
until it became universally known and cultivated as the most brilliant and variable species 
of the genus. In 1871 the first of these varieties, sent to Mr. Harry Veitch from Sogamosa 
by the collector Chesterton, received the specific name of Harryana from Professor 
Reichenbach, although, from the fact that he published no Latin description of the 
flower, he does not appear to have really considered it a distinct species. 
Some idea of the immense abundance and variability of J. coccinea is afforded by 
the account published in Mr. Veitch’s “ Manual of Orchidaceous Plants,” from which I 
have permission to make extracts :—Its principal locality is on the eastern Cordillera, 
between Sogamosa and Concepcion, where its vertical range is '7,000—10,000 feet ; it is 
particularly abundant on that part of the Cordillera called the Sierra Nevada de Chita, 
where it spreads in uninterrupted masses for miles, covering acres upon acres of the 
upland slopes, and growing in the partial shade afforded by low shrubs. When in bloom 
these masses of plants present a most striking sight, not only by the dazzling brilliancy of 
the colours of their flowers, but also by their astonishing variety. There is scarcely a shade 
of colour, from deep rich crimson-purple, through magenta-crimson, crimson-scarlet, 
scarlet, orange, yellow, to cream-white, that is not represented in greater or less abund- 
ance, the lighter shades of yellow being the rarest. In the lower limits of its range the 
leaves are longer, narrower, and darker in colour, and the flowers are less numerous, 
somewhat smaller, and of uniform colour, merging into that of the form. known in 
cultivation as M. Lindeni. It is only at and near the upper limits of its range that 
the pale yellow and the white varieties occur. 
Near Bogota also, this variable plant has been found, growing in patches several 
acres in extent, in a climate of frequent rain and dense fogs, at an elevation of 8,000 to 
12,000 feet. From this locality pure white flowers have been sent. I am informed by 
Consul Lehmann, that the local native name for WM. coccinea is “La Banderita,” or “the 
little flag.” One of the dark crimson varieties has also received a name in the native 
vernacular, signifying “ bull’s blood,” a name now in use in horticultural parlance to dis- 
tinguish one of the handsomest forms of the plant. Horticultural names have been 
conferred upon so many sub-varieties that it would be impossible to enumerate them all. 
Among the most striking forms may be mentioned atrosanguinea, with deep crimson- 
purple flowers; carulescens, magenta-crimson tinged with mauve; decora, dazzling 
magenta ; miniata, vermilion-red with crimson veins; and deta, rosy-purple. So far as 
I can ascertain, the pale yellow and the white varieties have never been in cultivation. 
The accompanying Plate may be taken to represent, as nearly as can now be 
determined, the original form of M7. coccinea collected by Linden. 
MASDEVALLIA COCCINEA UVa7r. HARRYANA, 
