no 



ORCHIDS 



curved, each 

 cup, whence 



Masdevallia. 



i.iin. broad, sh'ghtly channehed, duU green, the stalks springhng 

 trom sheaths lin. long. The flower-scape is curved, 6in. to gin. 

 long, sheathed at the nodes, one-flowered. Each flower is com- 

 posed of three united, triangular sei)als, spreading, slightly 

 I in. broad at the base, and forming a shallow 

 they graduall)' narrow to thin, straight tails, the 

 whole sepal measuring 

 about 6in. in length ; the 

 inner surface is covered 

 with soft hairs, and is 

 coloured cream)' - }'ellow, 

 •with large spots and 

 blotches of purple-brown. 

 The petals are small, 

 and the lip is a pouch 

 with slightl)'-toothed edges, 

 creamy-white. The flowers 

 remain fresh several weeks. 

 Sometime.s a second, and 

 even a third, flower is 

 developed from the same 

 scape if it is left on the 

 plant. Colombia, 1872. 



(C;. C, July, 18S1, p. 113.) 

 A'ar. Backhouscana is an 

 exceedingly dark and a 

 most distinct variety. 



\ ar. W'allisii is similar 

 to the t)pe, but has shorter 

 tails, and the flowers are 

 lighter in colour. (Fig. 05.) 



M. civilis (Rchh. /).— 

 Flowers greenish - yellow, 

 spotted inside with brown ; 

 sepals fused into a tube, 

 termi]iating in three slender 

 tails. Leaves fleshy, 4in. 

 to 6in. long. Peru, 1S64. 

 (B. M., t. 5476.) 



M. coccinea (////,/.).— A bright-coloured species, the flowers 

 bemg as red as a soldier's coat. It is said to be like M. i'-nca, 

 but with larger flowers and stouter leaves. These latter are 5in.' 

 long, strap-shaped, rounded at the apex, stalk-like at the base,' 

 thick, fleshy, dark green. The flower-scapes are ift. high, one- 





Fig. 96. 



ilASIJKVALLIA C( iCCJXKA 

 (much reduced). 



