THE ORCHID REVIEW 
Vol. XXIX] OCTOBER, 1921. [No. 340. 
NOTES. 
Masdevallia Simula. —When this miniature species was brought to the 
notice of amateurs it was said that if they would like to admire its charms 
they would have to arm themselves with very powerful eye-glasses, the 
flower just equalling in size a poorly-fed fly of our windows. But even 
to-day it will well repay being exam irted through a magnifying glass, for it 
is quite a little wonder as regards its coloration. The flower has a 
purplish upper sepal, and this, in the original description, is said to have 
“ many pellucid honey-coloured bars ! ” What an attraction for the poorly- 
fed fly ! 
Phaius Blumei. —Regarding the Bernaysii variety of this species, 
mentioned on p. Si, Mr. Bernays has stated ( Gard . Chron., 1873, p. 1244): 
“ I found the plant on Stradbroke Island, among thousands of its congener, 
Phaius grandifolius, from which, when not in flower, it is with difficulty 
■distinguished. These plants occupied many acres of swampy land, and 
being in full bloom were inexpressibly beautiful. The effect was heightened 
by the margin of the swamps being lined with the beautiful fern, Todea 
superba, breast-high ; and in places this was so densely interlaced with the 
delicate climbing fern, Lygopodium microphyllum, that we had to cut our 
(way through.” 
Epipactis Muelleri. —Under this name Col. M. J. Godfery, F.L.S., 
•describes in the Journal of Botany, April, 1921, a new European Epipactis. 
He states: “ The only doubt in my mind is, not whether E. Muelleri is a 
distinct species, but whether it does not constitute a separate genus. It 
must be admitted that differences in the structure and co-ordination of the 
•reproductive organs furnish generic rather than specific characters. But it 
»is manifestly undesirable to create a new genus except on quite unassailable 
•grounds, and the whole facies of the plant is so exactly that of an Epipactis 
that it seems preferable to widen our conception of that genus, rather than 
sto found a questionable genus on a single type.” 
