MASpEVALLIA CORIACEA. 
Dr. Karsten, in his “ Flora Colombix,” gives a drawing of the plant from fresh 
specimens found by him in the mountains of Bogota, 8—9,000 feet above the level of the 
sea, where it grows in dense masses upon moss-covered rocks, and on the bark of trees, 
over which it spreads its fleshy rounded roots. 
The species seems to be a variable one, for, in the Plate above mentioned, the flowers 
are represented as bright yellow, and Dr. Lindley also, in his description both of 
Hartweg’s and Linden’s plants, states that the colour of the flowers is yellow. The 
accompanying Plate represents the ordinary form of JZ. coriacea now in cultivation, and 
I have never seen a plant of this species with distinctly yellow flowers. A more brightly 
spotted form of M. coriacea is sold by some dealers under the name of 1. Bonplandii, 
the spots within the tube of the flower and upon the lip being especially numerous and 
brilliant. 
I am informed by Consul Lehmann that the true JZ. Bonplandii of Reichenbach is 
a totally distinct species, more nearly allied to IZ. civilis than to M. coriacea. Professor 
Reichenbach in 1855 described it as a distinct species, and in 1872 decided to consider 
it only a variety of J. coriacea. 
The first living plants of JZ. coriacea imported into England were those sent in 1871 
to Messrs. Hugh Low and Co., of Clapton, by their collector Bruchmiiller, in whose 
honour they named the plant MW. Bruchmiilleri, under the impression that it was an 
unknown species. 
Fig. 6 of the accompanying Plate shows ripe seed-capsules of JZ. coriacea, drawn from 
dried specimens in the Boissier Herbarium at Chambésy near Geneva, and found in 1883 
by Consul Lehmann on the Savana de Bogota. To the generosity and courtesy of Mons. 
Eugéne Autran, Curator of the Boissier Herbarium, I am indebted for the opportunity 
of making this interesting addition to my drawing. 
Consul Lehmann’s note on this species is as follows : 
M. coriacea grows on sandstone rocks upon which thin layers of soil and decayed leaves have accumu- 
lated, and is found along the western border of the Savana de Bogoti, at an elevation of 2,500 to 2,650 
métres (about 8,125 to 8,612 feet). It is plentiful in the vicinity of Bojaca, Facatativa, Tres Esquinas and 
Subachoque, and in all these localities it is exposed to severe changes of climate—sun, rain, and strong 
winds. The annual average temperature of this region is between 13° and 15° Centigrade (about 55° to 
59° Fahrenheit). 
