MASDEVALLIA HARRYANA ATROSANGUINEA 



[Plate 105.] 



XativG of J^cw GrcnadcL 



Epipliytal. Stems slender, short, tufted. Leaves persistent, l(\-it]iory in textinv, 

 with a nerveless elongate oblong-spa thulatc ol^tuse or somewhat acutt* blade, whi*"h 

 is channdlcd at the base, keeled behind, of a dark green cuh>ur, narniwrd ddw" ii- 



wards into a short petiole, three to four indies long, grooved in front, and inv(*si»Ml 



at the base by long mc^nibraiious brownish 8h<'aths. Scape oHM-t, about a foot liigli, 

 striatcly pencilled with purple, furnished with a few app]*<'sscd bhi\a tiling bracts, 

 bearing a solitary flower at the t(^p. Flowers riclily-colonred and strikingly handsome ; 

 tuhe a fpiarter of an inch wide and thr(M»-(piarters of an inc.li loiig, dull oraiigc- 

 yellow stained with rosy purple in front, the mouth more closed than in some 

 other forms; dorsal sepal upwards of two inches long, narrow nearly to ilie l)nM% 

 filiform upwards ; lateral sepals dulh*\ed, broadly aiid obliquely falcatcdanccolatc, 

 acuminate, two and a half inches long, and nearly an inch wide, of a I'ich glowing 

 crimson fiuslu^l with magenta ; j)cia?.s and lip small, hidd(*n wi the base of the tu^^^ 



Masdevallia Haeryana ATROSANGUINEA, JTovt. WtlUams. 



4r 



Of tlic gonus Masdevallia a few years ago tlierc were Tint a very HiTiited 



luimbcr of species known in cultivation, but it is now becoming a very comprdu ii^ive 

 one, thanks to the perseverance of our energetic collectors, who liave striven hard 

 to bring the plants home, and have in a great measure succeeded, although witli many 

 of them the task of importation has been very difficult. 



• The variety we now bring before our readers is one of the ])est furins of tli 

 l\rasdevairia Ilarn/ana group. The figure was taken from a fine plant in the 

 collection of R. Warner, Esq., Ih-ijonifiuld, who is a most sueets.-ful grower <»f 

 MasdevaUlas, and blooms them with fine flowers and brilliant colours. They ar»' 

 cultivated in pits after they have bloomed in summer, and in autumn arc brought 

 back into the Odontoglossum h(;use, where they complete their growtli rmd bloom 

 in spring. They retjuire rough filuous i)eat and sphagnum mos<, and a jjoiwl .sujiply 

 of water nearly all the year round. They must never get dry, as they are found 

 in shady places, where the atmosphere is always moist. We find them to succeed 

 well with the same treatment as Odouloylossim Alrxandrrp, but not 'in so cool a 

 temperature as some growers keep theF^o 2>hints in. They do not, however, like to 

 be kei)t too close, so that a little air must always l)e given, avoiding cold di-aughts, 

 which are injurious to all Orchids, whether grown in cool or warm houses. 

 Tlie rule applies in this respect in both ciises. 



As regards shading none of these plants like the hot sun, but they need all 

 the light that can be given them, without exposing them to l>right sunshine. The 



-D 



