324 ORCHIDS 



Maxillaria. 

 are ovate, compressed ; each bears one leaf, which is broad- 

 oblong, recurved, acute-pointed, ift. in length, light shining 

 green. The scapes are 6in. long, curved upwards, clothed with 

 reddish bracts, one-flowered ; flower nodding, 6in. across ; sepals 

 broad at the base, gradually narrowed to a point, the upper one 

 concave, the two lateral ones undulated and somewhat curved, 

 3in. long; petals shorter than, but similar in shape to, the lateral 

 sepal; lip three-lobed, the middle lobe recurved, triangular, yellow, 

 with a fleshy disk and a pair of crimson spots ; side lobes reddish 

 on the margins ; the rest of the flower is pure glistening white. 

 The plant blossoms in winter or spring, the flowers lasting about 

 a month. Native of Colombia at 6,oooft. elevation, whence it 

 was introduced in 1812. (B. M., t. 5296.) 



Many more species of Maxillaria are in cultivation, but the 

 majority of these are of botanical interest only. Most of the 

 species will be found described in Nicholson's " Dictionary of 

 Gardening." 



MEQACLINIUM. 



Several interesting Orchids belonging to the tribe Epi- 

 deiidreiB are found in this genus. The name, gi\-en by 

 Lindley, is from niegas, large, and kliiie, a bed ; referring 

 to the axis or rachis on which the flowers are borne. The 

 species (which are natives of Southern sub-tropical Africa) 

 are epiphj'tal, and require the temperature of the inter- 

 mediate-house. The cultural requirements are similar to 

 those for Bulbophvlliiin. Outside botanic gardens they are 

 rarely cultivated. 



MESOSPINIDiUiVl {Rihb. f.). This genus is now merged 

 with Cochlioda and Odontoglossum. 



MICROSTYLIS. 



Of the forty species of Microstylis iNutt.), of the tribe 

 Epidendrece, about half-a-dozen are cultivated for their 

 richly-coloured foliage. The name is from micros, small, 

 and stylos, a column ; in allusion to the size of the 

 column. The culture is similar to that for AiuvctocJiilits. 

 The species are terrestrial, and natives of Europe, Asia, 

 and America ; they are closely related to our Malaxis 

 paludosa. The pseudo-bulbs are fleshy, and they perish 



