MaspEVALLIA MUSCOSA. 
to escape from its prison, would more easily force its way out from the upper side, 
probably dislodging the anthers in its struggles. The same fly, with the anthers adhering 
to it, alighting upon the lip of a second flower and again imprisoned, must, by its move- 
ments, bring the anthers in contact with the viscid stigmatic surface, to which some 
portion of the pollen-grains would attach themselves. The lip closes of itself at dusk 
and opens again in the morning, showing that the insect designed for the fertilisation of 
the flower is a diurnal one. When the lip has been made to close by a light touch upon 
the sensitive portion—the bright yellow central ridge—it remains closed for twentv or 
thirty minutes, unless forcibly opened and held down; after that period it gently re-opens. 
It should be noticed that the anthers are inserted upon the apex of the column the 
reverse way to that of all known species of Masdevallia, the pollinia pointing backwards 
and downwards, so that the rostellum is the most prominent point of the column. 
The sensitive nature of the lip was first remarked by Mr. Bean, of the Orchid depart- 
ment in the Royal Gardens, Kew. It is well described in the “ Gardeners’ Chronicle” 
for June 25th, 1887, and still better by Professor Oliver—with excellent drawings—in 
the “ Annals of Botany” vol. I. (1887), p. 237. 
The upper surface of the leaves is covered with small rounded papille, but for what 
purpose these are intended it is difficult to say. 
Details of the habitat of JZ. muscosa are given by Mr. Lehmann as follows : 
This species has a very wide and irregular geographical distribution throughout Ecuador and 
Colombia, extending fully six hundred miles from north to south, and ranging vertically from 1,800 to 
2,300 metres (5,850 to 7,475 feet), in a temperature varying from 15° to 17°.5 Centigrade (59° to 62°.6 
Fahrenheit). Wherever it is found the atmosphere is uniformly damp during the whole year. It grows 
most frequently upon the trunks and thick branches of trees in mountain forests, where the absence of 
underwood allows a perpetual circulation of air. The scarcity of such woods accounts for the rarity of 
the plant, for although found in so many localities it is nowhere common. In many parts of Ecuador it 
also grows upon voleanie rocks and walls of lava, and produces the largest and most brightly coloured 
flowers, the flowering season being in February and March, 
In Ecuador it is chiefly found in the Andes of Quito, on the banks of the Rio Silante, about Milligallé 
and Canzacoto on the western slopes of the Cerro del Corazon, and on the road from Calacali to Nanegal 
on the Cerro Pululagua. 
In Colombia, northwards from the volcano of Pasto at the head of the valleys of the Patia, Cauca, 
and Magdalena rivers, it occurs almost uninterruptedly as far north as Santa Rosa de Osos, the Yarumal, 
Carolina and Amalfi, in the north of Antioquia. In the west of Antioquia it is met with in a few localities 
on the western slopes of the Cordillera at Abriaqui; further south, around Popaydn, it is found on the 
“eastern slopes of the Cerro Munchique, near the voleano of Sotard, the mountains of Caldono and Quilichao, 
about Tacuayd in the central Cordillera, and in other places too numerous to mention. 
In Colombia M. muscosa flowers from September to December, and in spite of its extensive 
geographical distribution, shows little variation either in size or colour. 
