MAspEVALLIA CIVILIS. 
trifling differences mentioned by Regel, chiefly some small characteristics of the 
flowering bract, do not, however, justify specific distinction. 
A dried specimen in the Lindley collection of Masdevallia in the Royal Herbarium, 
Kew, collected by Warscewicz at the sources of the Marafion (or Amazon) in May, 1853, 
and named by him M. rufolutea, is identical with M. civilis of Professor Reichenbach, 
who, during one of his numerous visits to Kew, wrote underneath this specimen the 
name WM. civilis. No botanical description was ever published under the name rufolutea, 
which first appeared in a catalogue of the sale of Warscewicz’s plants in 1853. 
The thick, rigid, and very narrow leaves are a marked characteristic of MW. civilis, 
the flowers of which species, outwardly dull and unattractive, show internally great 
beauty of structure and colouring. The succulent sepals and petals of this and of many 
allied species are, in cultivation, often found to be gnawed by small insects. In their 
native wilds, where the insect necessary to the requirements of each species is probably 
to be found, it is possible that this dainty food may be the means of attracting suitable 
insects to aid in the work of fertilization, Honey is rarely present in the small nectaries 
more or less developed in every species nearly allied to WZ. civilis, but the surface of the 
sepals and petals, and sometimes of the column, is often intensely shining, or covered 
with viscid matter—perhaps equally attractive. 
Hardly anything is known about the method of fertilization of any species of 
Masdevallia, although in a wild state most of them appear to ripen seeds in abundance. 
In the Herbarium Boissier at Chambésy, near Geneva, nearly all the specimens of 
Masdevallia (more than 150 in number, most generously placed at our disposal for the 
furtherance of the present work), show fine capsules in various stages of developement. 
The large size attained by a ripe capsule in proportion to its size during the flowering 
stage is very remarkable. 
Consul Lehmann gives the locality in which he has found this species : 
Masdevallia civilis is found in the vicinity of Huancabamba, in the Department of Piura, 
North Peru, at an elevation of 2,100 to 2,500 métres (6,825—8,125 feet). It grows among 
grasses and small shrubs in loamy soil, and upon rocks where thin layers of vegetable 
matter and soil have accumulated. The plants are a good deal exposed to the sun, and 
to the winds which sweep during several months of the year over the high plains of the 
Andes. Those exposed to the full influence of the sun are much smaller and have darker 
flowers than those growing partly sheltered and shaded under the shrubs. 
The annual temperature of the above region is between 14° and 16° Centigrade 
(about 57° to 61° Fahrenheit). 
F. C. Lenmann. 
