3i6 ORCHIDS 



Masdeuallia. 



near the apex. The scapes arc erect, a^ long as the leaves, one- 

 flowered : the flowers are gin. to I2in. in length, the .sepals 

 united at the l)ase, and forming a broad, horizontal cup Jj-in. 

 deep, then spreading \"erticalh', the upper one t;in. long, 

 gradually narrowed from a broad base, the lower ones free, 

 narrow, tail-like, sometimes curved towards the tips, and from 

 4in. to 6in. long ; petals and lip small ; colour tawny-yellow, 

 with numerous small, purple spots, the cup shaded with purple 

 outside, paler inside. This free-growing plant should be grown 

 in a pot under the conditions recommended for J/. Chiiiucra. 

 Colombia, 1876. ( E. -M., t. 7164.) 



M. melanopus {Rclih. /.). -\ densely-tufted, free-flowering 

 plant. Leaves 6in. long, lin. broad, strap-shaped, stalked at 

 the base, sheathed. Scape 9in. long, erect, many-flowered ; 

 sepals pale lilac, spotted with jiurple, united at the base, the 

 upper one largest, J,in. across, concave, keeled, with )-ellow 

 tails jin. long ; lower sepals free almost to the base, the 

 margins recurved, l.in. long, fringed with soft hairs ; tails yellow, 

 ■;in. long ; petals and lip very small. Although the individual 

 flowers are rather small, they are bright in colour, and being 

 numerous on the scapes as well as freely produced, they make 

 a bright and attractive little picture every winter. The plant 

 blossoms in January, and lasts in beauty over two months. 

 Peru, 1S74. .Syn. J/. p„!ysticta. (B. I\I., t. 6258.) 



M. melanoxantha {Lind. and Rch/i. /).— A synonym of 

 J\I. Moorcaua. 



M. Mooreana (Rilib. /). ^Related to J/, iiiairura, this 

 large-flowered, stout-leaved sjjecies is sometimes met with under 

 the name of J/ inelaitoxaiitha. The leaves are 61 n. to Sin. 

 long, i)-,in. wide, rounded at ape.\, stalked at base, with a 

 distinct node and long brownish sheaths, fleshy, thick, dark 

 green, spotted purple on the lower half The scapes are erect, 

 purplish, 4in. long, with a basal and middle sheath, one-flowered ; 

 flowers horizontal, cup-shaped, with a de]iression or chin, the 

 cup nearly tin. in depth and width : upper sepal narrowed 

 to a twisted tail 2in. long ; lower sepals joined for one 

 third of their length, then free and tail-like; colour dull 

 white, with jiurple speckles on the tube, and a large blotch 

 of crimson-purple on the lower sepals ; tails paltT ; petals 

 white; lip oblong, hairy, dark purple. A'enezuela, 1 884. (B. M., 

 t. 7015.) 



M. muscosa (7v.-///'. /).— As stated elsewhere this species is 

 a very sensitive one as regards its lip, enclosing any un- 

 fortunate insect that may alight upon it. ]''lowers 'buff"-yellow 



