158 



CASSELL'S POPOLAH GAEDENIXG. 



time as the young growths. Scape erect, longer than 

 the pseudo-hulbs, one-flowered. The flowers are very 

 large ; sepals and petals greenish-brown, tinged 

 with yellow ; lip tlu-ee-lohed ; the front lobe deep 

 velvety crimson-maroon, bordered with orange- 

 yellow, and very prettily fringed with dark hairs. 

 Spring and early summer. Central America, at con- 

 siderable elevations. 



L. Harrisonue. — ^A somewhat neglected but fine 

 species. Pseudo-bulbs pale green, with a narrow 

 hand of black at the apex, hearing a single, very deep 

 green, leathery, plaited leaf. Scape one to two- 

 flowered, each flower measuring some three inches 

 across ; sepals and petals large, thick, and waxy, purs 

 white ; lip rich purplish-hlao. In the variety citrina 

 the sepals and petals are pale yellow, and the lip lilac 

 and white. Spring and summer, lasting many weeks. 

 Brazil. 



Z. Skinnerii. — This is hy far the grandest member 

 of the family. In general habit it resembles the 

 other species, but the flowers are more gorgeous ; but 

 the varieties are so mmierous that it is somewhat 

 diflicult to describe the colours. The flowers are 

 usually some six inches across, broad, thick, and 

 waxy. The sepals are large and spreading, pure 

 waxy-white, sometimes more or less tinged with 

 flesh or rose-colour. The petals are smaller, stand- 

 ing forward, and form a large hood over the column. 

 These are sometimes pale rose, or deep rose, or crim- 

 son, liip deep rose, or crimson. Winter and spring. 

 Guatemala. 



X. Skinnerii, var. alba, sometimes called Lycaste 

 nrginalis. — This is a rare and beautiful form of the 

 species. The sepals and petals are of the purest 

 waxy- white. Lip also white, with a faint stain of 

 pale yellow at the hase. Winter and spring 

 months. Guatemala. 



Masdevallia. — A genus of dwarf epiphytes, 

 which, in the early days of Orchid-culture, were 

 somewhat despised, and were said to be remarkable 

 for the singularity of their flowers more than for 

 their beauty. Since then, however, the mountain 

 regions of New Grenada and Peru have heen more 

 thoroughly explored, and the numerous species sent 

 home prove that this idea was erroneous, and that 

 many species, in addition to their wonderfully gro- 

 tesque forms, produce flowers with brilliant colours. 

 This, added to the fact of their requiring the very 

 coolest treatment, and their blooms remaining a very 

 long time in perfection, has led to their becoming 

 general favourites with cultivators. 



For a long time after the discovery of these hril- 

 liant species, heavy expenses were incurred in the 

 attempts to introduce them to cultivation, and great 

 disappointment and regret were felt in the horticul- 



tural world at the want of success attending the 

 expenditure of, in some instances, hoth life and 

 money upon the collecting of them. Masdevallma 

 have no thickened pseudo-bulbs to assist in support- 

 ing vitaUty in the dormant stage, and as the transit 

 occupied a considerahle time, they usually amvea 

 in this country in a dead or dying state; and even 

 when a few did arrive ahve, they were treated in 

 such an uncongenial manner that they UteraUy 

 melted away. Happily we now live in hotter times, 

 transit is rapid, and the fact of their heing mountain 

 plants fuUy recognised, so that we have succeeded in 

 establishing most of the kinds sent home. 



As a genus, Masdevallia is characterised hy its 

 sepals, which are joined at the hase, and thus form- 

 ing a tube, while the apices are often drawn out 

 into long tail-like points ; the petals are concealed 

 in the tuhe, and (unlike the majority of Orchids) 

 these are very small; Up small, and jointed with the 

 column, which is round ahove, and semi-circular on 

 the under side. 



MasdevaUias, as hefore remarked, are mountain 

 plants, being found at elevations of from 8,000 to 

 10,000 feet, and, therefore, they require cool treat- 

 ment ; indeed, they will not long survive if placed 

 in a high temperature. To be successful in their 

 cultivation, the greatest attention must be paid to 

 drainage, for these plants enjoy a copious supply ot 

 water ; but nothing stagnant must upon any account 

 he allowed to touch their roots, and they must never 

 he deprived of moisture, as they cannot suffer dry- 

 ing off. For compost, use rough peat and living: 

 srphagnum moss, in about equal parts, and a little 

 sharp sand. These plants are always growing, and 

 consequently flower several times in the year, and 

 their brilliant colours form a splendid contrast to the 

 pure white flowers of Odontoglossum Alexandra. 

 The most heautiful species of this genus are here 

 described ; hut there are many others in cultivation, 

 well deserving the attention of cool Orchid growers, 

 of which the following are amongst the most curious 

 and showy : attenuata, Backhousiana, Denisoniana, 

 ephippiiim, injlttta, ionocharis, macrura, militarise 

 Feristeria, psittacina, Seicheiibachiana, radiosa, rosea, 

 triaristcUa, trochilus, lespetiilio, Wagneriana, and 

 xanthina. Peruvian House. 



M. amabilis. — A very free-growing plant. Leaves 

 almost sessile, five to six inches high, oblong-ovate, 

 deep green above, paler below. The radical stalks 

 are twice as long as the leaves, erect ; flowers soli- 

 tary, rich orange-carmine in colour. Peru. 



M. bella. — This is an extremely heautiful species ; 

 leaves erect, thick, and coriaceous, oblong-lanceolate, 

 carinate, and deep green; peduncle one -flowered, 

 pendulorfs ; flowers large, measuring upwards of si:, 

 inches from tip to tip of the sepals, which are drawn 



