MASDEVALLIA VELIFERA Rchb. f. 
Masprvarria verirera Rehb f. Gard. Chron. 1874, pt. 1, p. 406 (nomen tantum) ; pt. IL., p.98 ; 1878, 
pt. IL, p. 364 (errore valifera) ; 1881, pt. IL., p. 409 (errore vilifera) ; 1887, pt. 1, p. 744, 
fig. 142 ; Orchidophile (Godefroy) 1883, p. 548, with fig. p. 544; Veitch Manual Orch. pt. V. 
(1889), p. 69. 
Leaf 6 or 8 inches long and about 1 inch wide, oblong-lanceolate, very thick and rigid, apex obtusely 
tridenticulate, very dark green. 
Peduncle about 3 inches long, terete, ascending from a joint at the base of the petiole, with two or 
three sheathing bracts, bright green ; flowering bract 1 inch long, sheathing below, apiculate, 3-nerved, 
pale green or yellowish, with a minute rudimentary bud within at the base. 
Ovary } inch long, curved, with three broad and three narrow rounded angles, bright green. 
Sepals: dorsal sepal united to the lateral sepals for nearly # inch, forming a wide gibbous tube, free 
portion 2 inch long, ovate, 3-nerved, ochre-yellow spotted with brown on the inner ‘surface, tapering into 
a slender tail about 24 inches long, orange, greenish at the back ; lateral sepals cohering for about 
2 inches, oblong, stiffly reflexed, with 3 nerves, two of which bifureate, brownish-yellow, deepening to 
mahogany brown in the centre, shining as if varnished, tapering into slender tails about 11 inch long, 
orange, greenish at the back. 
Petals about 4 inch long, linear at the base, then oblong, angled on the anterior margin, apiculate, 
pale yellow tinged with green. 
Lip 4 inch long, broadly oblong near the base, and united to the curved foot of the column by a 
very flexible hinge, the apex and anterior margins much reflexed, dark purple, covered with small rough 
papilla, the central line greenish. 
Column about 2 inch long, curved, broadly winged, pale green, the foot spotted with crimson, apex 
crenate. 
TIS handsome and curious species was discovered in 1874 by the Belgian collector, 
Patin, who sent specimens to Mr. B. 8. Williams without recording its habitat. 
The first plants which flowered in cultivation were imported for Mr. Bull by Shuttleworth, 
who found it in abundance near Ocafia, in the Province of Santander, Colombia. The 
species most resembling MW. velifera are M. elephanticeps, M. Mooreana and M. Peristeria, 
especially in the rigid substantial texture of the flowers, the shape of the tube, and the 
prominence of the nerves upon the outer surface. None of these, however, show the 
peculiar shining brown colour of the lateral sepals so remarkable in J. velifera. 
The name velifera signifies “ sail-bearer,” but Professor Reichenbach’s reason for 
choosing it is scarcely apparent. The plant is still rare in cultivation, and I am 
indebted to friends for specimens. 
Explanation of Plate : 
Fig. 1, petal, lip, and column, in natural position ;—la, section of ovary ;—2, petal, inner side ;— 
3, lip ;—8a, base of lip (much enlarged) ;—4, column ;—4a, apex of column ; all enlarged ;—5, apex and 
section of leaf, natural size. 
