42 MASDEVALLIA. 



M. Ephippium in localities separated from each other by an 

 interval of upwards of a thousand miles, is a singular tact in its 

 history. As a species, its chief peculiarity is seen in the lateral 

 sepals that form a deeply concave bowl-shaped body of a rufous 

 brown colour, and their long flexuose tails that curve away from 

 each other in a singular manner. 



M. Erythrochsete. 



Leaves linear-ohlanceolate, 6 — 8 inches long.* Scapes slender, nearly 

 as long again as the leaves, with a closely appressed sheath at each 

 joint and a larger one below tlie bent ovary, one-flowered. Perianth 

 tube short, patent, yellowish white externally ; free portion of sepals 

 ovate-triangular, which, as well as the connate basal portions, are 

 yellowish white s})otted with red-purple and studded with numerous 

 white hairs on the inner side; tails 2 inches long, reddish purple ; petals 

 minute, oblong, broAvn at the tips ; lip as in Masdevallia ChiiiKera, 

 but smaller, white faintly tinted with rose. Column white. 



Masdevallia Erytlirochrete, Rchb. in Gard. Chrou. XVIII. (1882), p. 392. 

 Introduced by Messrs. Sander and Co., from Central America. It 

 is very near Masdevallia Ghimcera and j\L astuta, from both of 

 which it may be distinguished by its smaller flowers. The specific 

 name, from hfnSpoq (eruthros), "^^red,^' and X"tV»/ (chaite), "long hair,'^ 

 refers to the long slender tails. 



M. Estradse. 



A dwarf, densely-tufted plant. Leaves elliptic-spathulate, leathery, 

 2 — 3 inches long including petioles, often bifid at the apex. Scapes 

 slender, longer than the leaves, with a sheathing bract near the base, 

 and another below the ovary, one-flowered. Perianth tube short, cam- 

 panulate ; free portion of upper sepal obovate-oblong, concave, almost 

 helmet-shaped ; lateral sepals oblong, obtuse, nearly flat with recurved 

 margins, and terminating in long slender tails, 1| — 2 inches long, l)asal 

 half and tails yellow, distal half mauve-purple ; petals and lip linear-oblong, 

 Avhitish. Column white, spottetl and margined with purple. 



Masdevallia Estrada;, Echb. in Gard. Chron. I. (1874), p. 435. Bot. Mag. t. 6171. 

 Belg. hort. 1875, p. 371. 



var.— xanthina. 



Elowers pale honey-yellow witli a mauve-purple spot at the base of 

 the lateral sepals. 



M. Estradfe xanthina, supra. M. xanthina, Rchb. in Gard. Chron. XIII. (1880), 

 p. 681. 



* A foot long, according to Reichenbach. Our descri^itiou was taken from a pU\nt in the 

 Downside collection. 



