AXn THEIR MANAGEMENT. 319 



Masdeuallia. 



vase-shaped bracts at the top, from which spiiny the flowers, 

 strong scapes bearing four each ; tube short and curved ; upper 

 sepal narrow, tail-hke, reflexed, i .\in. long; lower se|ials united 

 and forming a flat blade iJjin. long and lin. across, with a pair 

 of tails jin. long. 'J'he whole flower is pure snow-white, and is 

 sweet-scented. The plant blossoms in winter, and continues 

 in flower for two months or more. It is easily cultivated if 

 planted in pots or pans, but requires more warmth in winter than 

 the majoritv of Masdevallias. This species was the first introduced 

 of the large, attractive-flowered kind=. In 1864, wjien it first 

 flowered, there were scarcely half-a-dozen species in cultivation, 

 and these were the most insignificant of those now known. It is 

 a native of Tovar, in Colombia. Syn. M. Candida. ( B. M., t. 5505.) 



M. triangularis (Liiid/.). — A handsome species, and perhaps 

 the most free-flowering of all Masdevallias. The leaves are 

 tufted, 4in. long, ovate in the blade, stalked, dull green. The 

 flower-scapes are erect, oin. long, one-flowered ; the sepals are 

 triangular, slightly concave, spreading, the broad part being |in. 

 and the tail lin. long; colour light ochre, with nunrerous brown 

 spots, clear at the base, the tails dull red ; petals and lip very 

 small. Although dull in colour, this is an elegant little plant, 

 and well worth growing. It blooms in the spring, remaining in 

 flower nearly two months. It may be grown as advised for 

 J/, caudata. Colombia, 1843. 



M. triaristella (Rciih. /.). — One of the tiniest of Orchids, 

 but a gem, and of far greater beauty and interest than many 

 large and popular kinds. The leaves are erect, about 2in. long, 

 very narrow, almost terete, with a short stalk, and crowded in 

 a dense tuft. The scapes are erect, very thin and hair-like, 3in. 

 long, one-flowered ; the two lower sepals are deep brown- 

 crimson, united so as to form a little boat \\n. long, with a pair 

 of short horn-like yellow tails near the tip ; the upper sepal 

 is short, erect, with a yellow tail -jin. long ; the tails are 

 thickest at the apex. Costa Rica, 1876. 



M. tridactylites (Rchb. f.), M. triglochin (RM. f.), and 

 several other species, are similar to the preceding in the minute- 

 ness and beauty of their flowers, and the diminutiveness of the 

 whole plant. All require the same treatment as the M. caudata 

 group. 



M. trinema (Rchb. f.). — This is practically identical with 

 M. Lowii. 



M. Trochilus (Andre). — A synonym of M. Epliippium. 



M. Veitchiana (Rchh. f.). — The most brilliant in colour, 

 and one of the largest-flowered of all Masdevallias. It is not 



