MASDEVALLIA MOOREANA BRchb. f. 
Maspevatr1A Moorwana Rehb. f. Gard. Chron. 1884, pt. L, p. 408 ; 1887, pt. II., p. 777 ; Orchidophile 
(Godefroy), 1884, p. 184; 1888, p. 262; Bot. Mag. t. 7015 (1888) ; Veitch Manual Orch. pt. V. 
(1889), p. 53. 
M. elephanticeps var. pachysepala Rehb., f. Bonplandia IL. (1854), p. 283; Xen. Orch. I. (1858), p. 198, 
t. 74, figs. II. and IV. 
M. sororcula Rehb, f. Gard. Chron. 1887, pt. II., p. 713 ; Orchidophile (Godefroy) 1888, p. 230. 
Leaf about 7 inches long, oblong, obtusely tridenticulate, coriaceous, curved, narrowing below into a 
stout grooved petiole, sheathed at the base, dull purple-green, the young leaves bright shining green, with 
a few dull crimson spots upon the petiole. 
Peduncle scarcely more than } inch long, with a pedicel 1 inch long, terete, with two sheathing bracts, 
ascending from the base of the petiole, green, with small crimson spots ; flowering bract 3 inch long, 
apiculate, sheathing below. 7 
Ovary 3 inch long, with six rounded angles, dull green. 
Sepals : dorsal sepal united to the lateral sepals for about } inch, forming a wide tube, gibbous below, 
free portion ovate-triangular for } inch, 3-nerved, tapering into a flattened fleshy tail 2 or 24 inches long, 
pale greenish-yellow, with crimson nerves and yellow tail; lateral sepals cohering for about 14 inch, 
oblong-ovate, 3-nerved, rich purple-crimson, the nerves darker, covered with papille, and tapering into 
flattened tails nearly 2 inches long, usually crossed, pale yellow shaded with crimson. 
Petals about 4 inch long, oblong, apiculate, much thickened on the anterior margin, white and 
shining, with a rich crimson central streak. 
Lip a little longer than the petals, tongue-shaped, grooved and fleshy at the base, and united to the 
| fo} i a co) p ao) y ? 
curved foot of the column by a flexible hinge, purple-crimson, with darker longitudinal lines, the apex 
covered with stiff dark hairs. 
Column shorter than the petals, narrowly winged, apex denticulate, green, the apex, margin and foot 
crimson. 
HERE has been much doubt as to the specific distinctness of MW. Mooreana, and 
frequent confusion between it and M. elephanticeps. I have no hesitation in 
identifying it with Reichenbach’s M. elephanticeps var. pachysepala, although it is 
difficult to account for the fact that he afterwards named the same plant MZ. Mooreana. 
Thirty years, however, elapsed from the time (1854) when he published the earlier name, 
with a very scanty description of dried specimens sent to him from Ocafia by Warscewicz, 
until the date of his examination of the specimens which he named MM. Mooreana—fresh 
flowers produced from cultivated plants. In 1858 a more detailed description of the 
same plant was given in his “ Xenia Orchidacea” from a coloured drawing sent to him 
by Wagener with specimens preserved in alcohol. A comparison of Wagener’s drawing 
Explanation of Plate, drawn from a plant at Newbattle Abbey : 
section of ovary ;—2, petal, inner side ;—3, lip ;—3a, base of lip 
Fig. 1, petal, lip, and column ;—la, 
all enlarged ;—5, apex and section of leaf, 
showing nectaries ;—4, column ;—4a, apex of column ; 
natural size. 
