MASDEVALLIA CAUDATA. 
one by Dr. H. Karsten, of Berlin, drawn, he informs me, in its native habitat—the 
mountains of Bogota—from freshly gathered flowers, and published in his splendid work 
“ Flora Colombi ” (1862-9), vol. IL, plate CLIII. This specimen is exactly identical 
with the plant now generally known as Masdevallia Shuttleworthii, a name conferred 
upon it in 1875 by Professor Reichenbach, who was perhaps—judging from a description 
of M. caudata published by him in Bonplandia IT. (1854), p. 33—under the impression 
that the two were distinct species. He here describes the colour of the sepals as green 
and that of the tails violet, stating the habitat to be Caracas, a locality in which the true 
M. caudata is hardly likely to occur. Some years later, however, he appears to have 
decided that J. caudata Lindl. was identical with his JZ. Shuttleworthii, and, apparently 
reluctant to abandon the latter name, he called the plant in 1889 JZ. candata 
Shuttleworthii. 
Wild plants frequently attain a greater size than those flowering in cultivation, 
specimens larger than that here represented having been found by Consul Lehmann on 
the Savana de Bogota, where the plant forms large thick tufts upon the trees of the 
western slopes. 
A variation occurs in individual plants in the number of the crimson stripes of the 
dorsal sepal, some flowers having five, some seven, and some nine stripes. This difference 
is not due to any variation in the number of the nerves, but to the bifurcation or non- 
bifurcation, generally near the base, of one or both of the two lateral nerves. 
Fig. 6 of the accompanying Plate represents the variety named by Reichenbach 
xanthocorys—yellow-helmet—which appeared in 1882 in the collection of Sir Trevor 
Lawrence. 
Several hybrids have been raised between MW. caudata and other species, of which 
one of the prettiest is 17. Geleniana Rehb. f. (Gard. Chron. 1887, pt. IT., p. 586), raised 
by Messrs. Sander, of St. Albans, between MW. caudata and M. wanthina. The dorsal 
sepal is orange-yellow, with numerous small crimson spots, and the lateral sepals pale 
pink tinged with yellow, and having some of the small transverse spots so remarkable in 
M. caudata. The tails are slender, about 3 inches long, and bright orange-yellow. 
M. caudata-Estrade Rolfe (Gard. Chron. 1889, pt. I., p. 714) is a hybrid raised by 
Mr. Seden for Mr. Veitch from MZ. caudata and M. Estrade. The dorsal sepal is rose- 
purple, yellowish at the base, the lateral sepals. soft violet-purple, paler at-the apex. The 
tails are about 2 inches long, orange-yellow. 
M. Courtauldiana Rehb. f. (Gard. Chron. 1889, pt. L., p. 200) was raised by Mr. 
Norman Cookson, of Oakwood, Wylam-on-Tyne, from WZ. rosea and M. caudata. The 
dorsal sepal and tail are light brownish, and the lateral sepals light rose-colour. 
Consul Lehmann contributes the following information : 
M. caudata grows upon oaks and other trees and shrubs, always near the ground, in dense 
damp woods or forests on the northern, western, and southern slopes of the Savana de Bogota ; and also 
on the western declivities of the Paramo de Santa Rosa and Sumapaz, in the Province of Cunditiamares at 
an elevation of 2,000 to 2,500 métres (6,500—8,125 feet). Plants with the largest and most firiely 
coloured flowers are found chiefly on the descent from the Mont. ‘ 
the Salto de Tequendama, the same locality visited by 
specimens. 
and very 
afia de Subaté to Fusagasugs, and along 
Goudot, and where he probably found his 
The annual mean temperature of the habitat of M. caudata is be 
57° to 61° Fahrenheit), and it flowers from February to May. 
to the development of this species. 
tween 14° and 16° Centigrade (about 
Shade and constant moisture are essential 
G c - 
The variety wanthocorys is most abundant in the woods of Supata 
< ? 
Pacho and Veragcua Gr: 
Ss es , ‘ ¢ i agua Grande, on 
the western declivities of the western mountains of Zipaquira a ; 
, about ninety miles north of Bogoti. 
