156 MAXILLARIA. 



M. lepidota. 



Pseudo-bulbs narrowly ovoid, 1 — 1^ inch long, monophyllous. Leaves 



linear-lanceolate, 9 — 12 inches long, conduplicatc at the base. Scapes 



much shorter than the leaves. Sepals linear from a lanceolate base, 



tail-like, 2i inches long, the broader basal portion yellow, the tails 



brown ; petals similar but shorter, wholly yellow ; lip oblong, acute, the 



lateral margins incurved; the apical half concave, reflexed, yellow spotted 



with blackish purple ; plate of disk grooved, pubescent. Column yellow. 



Maxillaria lepidota, Lindl. Ann. Nat. Hist. XV. (1845), p. 38, ex Rclib. in Walp. 

 Ann. VI. p. 525. Kchb. in Gard. Chron. IX. (1878), p. 168. 



Originally discovered by Hartweg in soutliern Colombia^ near 



Popayan, in 1841 — 42, and gathered by Spruce on the Andes of 



Ecuador in 1858, but not introduced into British gardens till 1877, 



when it was received by Messrs. Lov^r and Co., of Clapton, and 



Mr. Bull, of Chelsea, from their respective correspondents. This and 



the next species to be described are remarkable among the cultivated 



Maxillarias for their long tail -like sepals, a character expressed by 



the specific names. 



M. longisepala.* 



"Pseudo-bulbs tufted, ovate or ovate-oblong, sub-compressed, 1 — 1^ 



inch long. Leaves narrowly ligulate, acute, 6 — 9 inches long. Scapes 



6 inches long : bracts lanceolate, acute, reddish brown. Sepals nearly 



4 inches long, very narrow, acuminate, pale purple-brown faintly striated 



with a darker shade ; petals similar but a little shorter ; lip ovate-oblong, 



obtuse or sub-apiculate, llie margin a little reflexed, light yellowish green 



with radiating lines of dark reddish brown on the margin. Column 



pale gTeen."— R. A. Eolfe in Gard. Chron. VIII. s. 3 (1890), p. 94. 



Maxillaria longisepala, Rolfe in Gard. Chron. loq, cit. Lindenia, VI. t. 248. 



''A new and elegant species sent from Venezuela by Bungeroth 



to M. Linden, L' Horticulture Internationale of Brussels, in 1890." 



M. luteo-alba. 



Pseudo-bulbs broadly ovate-oblong, much compressed, about 2 inches 

 long, monophyllous. Leaves broadly ligulate, 15—20 inches long, cuneate 

 below and passing into a short folded petiole. Peduncles about 6 inches 

 high ; bracts slightly inflated. Flowers large and fragrant ; sepals linear- 

 oblong, acute, 3 inches long, white at the base, the remainder tawny 

 yellow, reddish purple behind ; petals similar but narrower, shorter and 

 more acute ; lip three-lobed, the side lobes oblong, erect, whitish 

 obliquely streaked with dark purple on the inner side ; the intermediate 



* Not seen by us. 



