2or) 
Oos 
PL. CCCCXXVII, 
MASDEVALLIA DAVISII rcup. rf, 
Mr. W. DAVIS'S MASDEVALLIA. 
MASDEVALLIA. Vide Lindenia, Engl. ed., I, Deel zs 
Masdevallia Davisi. Aff. M, Harryanae. Dense caespitosa; foliis cuneato-ligulatis obtuse acutis valde carnosis 
3 sepalo superiori a triangulo basi in caudam longiorem 
extenso; sepalis lateralibus oblongis ultra medium connatis, lobis oblongis subito ac abrupte breve aristatis ; tepalis 
ligulatis obtuse acutis, antice emarginatis ante unguem semi-sagittatis, bicarinatis; 
latiori, tricarinato, androclinii membrana serrata, 
angustis; pedunculo longe exserto, cupula perigonii recta 
labello pandurato acuto, antice 
Masdevallia Davisi Rous. F. in Gard. Chron., II, 1b Foe, — 
Ip., V, p. 306; Xen. Orch,, III, t. 203; Bot. 
Mag., t. 6190. 
asdevallia Davisii occupies a very distinct place in the genus by reason 
| of its colour, which is altogether unique and very attractive. It is the 
£ only pure yellow which exists among Masdevallias, and this tint is 
therefore as rare as in some other genera. It is this character which gives to 
Cattleya citrina its celebrity. : 
Masdevallia Davisii was discovered in 1873 by the collector Davis, of the 
firm of James Verrcu & Sons, on the eastern Cordillera of Peru, a short distance 
from Cuzco. 
He met with it on the sides of the mountains at a considerable altitude, 
from about 10,500 to 12,000 feet altitude, growing under conditions which 
Bunceroru has so well described in the Journal des Orchidées : — 
“On the mountain sides covered with Sobralias of diverse tints, in the 
cool shady places, often watered by the crystal fluid from a small stream, are 
found among ferns, Adiantums, etc., large tufts of Masdevallia. The natives 
call them banderitas (little flags), because at a distance they appear like little 
standards, standing erect among the cool and beautiful foliage which surrounds 
“he: 
them. 
“ The numerous species which this genus contains do not delight in full 
sun, or in a bright light. The majority of them are terrestrial, and grow among 
cool mosses and little ferns, generally along the margins of cool and rapid 
rivulets, in shady woods. 
“A small number of species with beautiful flowers of medium size, are 
found in more elevated localities, in an argillaceous soil mixed with little stones, 
and exposed to more light, lastly a very few grow on the branches of an evergreen 
-oak, Quercus Humblotii. 
“ Masdevallias, as has been said, are Orchids of an elevated region and 
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