304 ORCHIDS 



Masdeuallia. 



HI. triaristclla, AI. mnscosa, and J/, candata (M. Sliiittle- 

 li'ivt/iii) belong-, although thc\' do well in the cool-house in 

 summer, must ha\-e warmer conditions provided in winter. 

 The conditions that suit them best are a temperature of 

 55deg. throughout the )-car. The Chnnccra section does 

 best when grown in baskets, while the smaller-growing" 

 species of the remaining sections are best accommodated 

 in shallow pans, so that tliey can be suspended near the 

 roof-glass. A little leaf-soil and rough sand mixed with 

 the peat and moss will be found advantageous for this 

 section. AI. tovarcnsis, which is a winter-flowering plant, 

 should be grown in warmer and drier conditions during 

 the winter months, tlie Odontoglossum-house being too 

 humid for it. AI. ]\'cndlaiidii is a H-arm-growing minia- 

 ture species, best accommodated in shallow pans, and 

 suspended, in \\'inter, in the warm intermediate-house. 

 With the whole family of Masdex'allias it is advisable to 

 maintain reasonably dr)- conditions during the resting 

 season, and especially chn-ing periods when there is a 

 difficulty in keeping the temperature at the normal con- 

 dition of 5odeg. Rain-water must alwa}-s be used for 

 these plants : hard water is resented by both the plants 

 and the sphagnum. 



Re-potting is best done in the early spring for the small- 

 growing and C/iiiiiccra section. The robust-growing species 

 and varieties should be re-potted at the end of August or 

 during September. It is tiien that the plants emit their 

 new roots, and thc\' immediately establish themselves in 

 the fresh compost, and little if any check is apparent. 

 The moss used should be freshl3'-gathered, and chopped 

 moderately fine. For drainage, bracken-fern roots may be 

 used with ad\-antage instead of potsherds. 



M. abbreviata {Rchb. /.). — This species is closely allied to 

 J\f. melanopus, but the flowers have usually far fewer dots. 

 Flowers white, with a few purple spots ; racemes few-flowered. 

 Leaves spathulate, oljtuse. Colombia, 1S78. 



M. acrochordonia {Rchb. /.). — A species allied to 

 M. Epiuppiuin, but with narrower leaves and acuminate 

 petals ; peduncle many-flowered ; inner surface of the sepals 

 warted ; lip with a wavy median keel. Ecuador, iSSy 



M. amabilis {Rcld'. f.). — A graceful species, forming tufts of 

 erect, fleshy, green leaves, 5in. long and fin. across, the apex 



