18 MASDEVAI.LIA. 



groups of niiuor iiiipnilaucc, wliirli (ui tlic wliolc arc vcvv natural and 

 fairly well characterised, thus : — 



1. Coriaceic. Perianth distinctly coriaceous, varying from shortly and 

 broadly to narrowly tubular, sepaline tails variable, usually short and rigid : 

 l)eduncles one-flowered ; bracts generally small. 



To this sub-section belong Masdevallia calura, civilis, coriacea, elephan- 

 ticeps, Jforihunda, Garr/rmiua, Io7iocharis, leontoglos^a, Mooreana, jxichi/antha, 

 Peristeria, platyglosm, Reichenhachiana, velifera. 



2. Qucullatw. Bracts large and cucullate, Avhich distinguishes the 

 included species from the preceding. 



It includes M. cnrniculata, M. cucuUata, M. niacriira. 



3. Pdhjantluf. Peduncles few or nuxny-flowered. Flowers generally 

 but not always somewhat coriaceous, (littering but little in shape from the 

 preceding groups. 



A somewhat polymorphous group, including M. Ephippium, iufrada, 

 maculata, Schh'mii, tovarensi^. 



4. Coccinece. Perianth scarlet, rose-purple, or yellow, sub-membraneous, 

 generally narrowly tubular below, lateral tails always short, or almost 

 absent. Peduncles normally one-flowered, except in M. racemosa. A 

 very natural group, easily recognised by the brilliant coloured perianth. 

 All the included species and their hylirids are highly popular among 

 cultivators. 



This sub-section includes M. amahilis, Barheana, cocdnea, Davisii, 

 ignea, inilitaris, racemosa, rosea, VeitcMana. 



5. Cmidatce. Perianth membraneous, the tubidar portion generally 

 short and open, with long slender tails, peduncles one-flowered. A 

 large, varied, and easily recognised group. 



Included species, 31. Arhdnii, caudata {Shuttle a-orthii), Estradoi, 

 hieroglypliica, ludihunda, triangularis, Wageneriana. 



6. Amandce Flowers small, and borne in erect racemes, perianth 

 membraneous with short tails ; in other characters much resembling the 

 preceding group. The best known species included in it are M. Melanopus 

 and M. polystida. 



II, Saccolabiat.e.* Lip saccate or cochleate, petals club-shaped, 

 keeled and papillose near the apex ; perianth tube short and open, 

 generally more or less hairy. A most distinct section, including the 

 species that are sometimes called by horticulturists the ChiniiBroid group. 



It includes the following, M. astnta, hella, Carderi, Chedertonii, 

 Chimmra, Eri/throchcete, Gaslielliana, Houtteana, nyderina, radiosa, 

 Troglodytes, Vespertilio . 



III. Triaristell^. Perianth tube extremely sliort ; lateral sepals 

 united almost or quite to apex ; tails lateral, i.e., not a prolongation of 



* Eeichenbach uses Saccilabiataj in most places, but in one or two instances Saccolabiatse ; 

 as the latter compound is formed more in accordance with classical usage than the former, 

 we have retaineil it in the text. 



