MASDEVALLIA FRACTIFLEXA 
sp. noy. Lehm. et Krinz. MS. 
MasDEVALLIA FRACTIFLEXA, sp. noy. Lehm. et Kriinz. MS. Planta czspitosa; folio oblongo- 
lanceolato, coriaceo, margine revoluto, apice tridenticulato, viridi, in petiolum sulcatum robustum sensim 
angustato, basi vaginato; pedunculo unifloro, tereti, erecto, curtiore quam folio, basi bracteis vaginantibus 
vestito, viridi, rubro-maculato ; bractea sub flore membranacea, supra ovata, infra vaginanti, apiculata ; 
ovario costato, viridi, rubro-maculato ; sepalis in tubum constrictum connatis, basi in mentum producto, 
carnosis, limbis ovatis, trinerviis, in caudas triquetras sensim elongatis, abrupte reflexis, viridi-luteis, 
exteriore minute transverse rubro-striato, caudis coccineis ; petalis linearibus angulatis, pallide luteis, apice 
viridi acuto ; labello lineari, margine revoluto, pallide luteo, coccineo maculato, apice trilobato, coccineo, 
papilloso; columna petalis equilonga, apiculata, pallide lutea, rubro marginata, pede rubro.—Species nova 
sectionis Coriacee Rehb. f—Hab. Ecuador. Lehm. Herb. 10,020. 
Leaf about 10 inches long, oblong-lanceolate, coriaceous, apex tridenticulate, green, narrowing below 
into a grooved petiole, sheathed at the base. 
Peduncle, including the pedicel, about 4 inches long, terete, ascending from the base of the petiole, 
with several sheathing bracts, green spotted with crimson; flowering bract 3 inch long, membranous, 
apiculate, sheathing below, green, tinged and spotted with crimson. 
Ovary 8 inch long, with six rounded angles, green, with small crimson spots. 
Sepals cohering for about 3 inch, forming a narrow tube, gibbous below, 3-nerved, coriaceous, pale 
yellow, with numerous small transverse crimson spots on the exterior, tapering into slender reflexed 
crimson tails, about 21 inches long. 
Petals about 4 inch long, linear, angled at the margin, apiculate, pale yellow, with a pale green apex 
and central line. 
Lip about 4 longer than the petals, united by a hinge to the curved foot of the column, linear, margins 
recurved, apex tri-lobed, pale yellow spotted with crimson, the apex covered with small papilla. 
Column equalling the petals, apiculate, pale yellow, with the margin and foot bright crimson. 
HIS very rare and interesting plant was discovered by Mr. Lehmann in 1876, in the 
Eastern Andes of Loja, the most southern province of Ecuador. It was named by 
him and his friend Dr. Krinzlin, of Berlin, in allusion to the abruptly reflexed tails of 
the sepals. The exact locality is stated by Mr. Lehmann, as follows : 
I discovered plants of M. fractiflera as long ago as November, 1876, but for many years I never saw 
the flower. In December, 1890, I found one flower only, and two years afterwards, I was so fortunate as 
to find a large number of plants in flower, enabling me to make careful drawings and observations. Asa 
inguished, and, with its pretty and curious flowers, 
species it is very characteristic and easily to be dis 
would deserve a place in any collection of Orchids. 
Of all Masdevallias which I have observed, this is the rarest, and although I have spent many months 
in exploring every accessible part of the Eastern Andes, I have hitherto found comparatively few specimens 
of it, and those only in one place. This locality is called “ El Dictamno,” and is situated on the descent 
from the Eastern Andes, about half-way between Loja and Zamora, at an eleyation of 1,800 métres 
(5,850 feet). The plant grows on trees, from eight to sixteen feet from the ground, in very damp thick 
woods, and in a region where, during the whole year, there are very few days without rain. 
Explanation of Plate, from a drawing by Mr. Lehmann : 
Fig. 1, petal, lip, and column, natural size ;—2, petal, outer side ;—2a, petal, from the inner side ;— 
3, lip ;—3a, back -of lip ;—4, column ;—4a, front of column ; all enlarged. 
