Masdevallia 



even elegaut. Sepals and petals range from blush- 

 white to deep rose ; the lip is blnsh-white spotted 

 with crimson, or its throat rosy, spotted with white, 

 or the whole of it, saving the tip, is vividest 

 crimson ; with all variations possible between these 

 extremes. 



Lycastes in general may be manured with advan- 

 tage, but this species is visibly improved by a 

 very little cow-dung in the water once a weel-c. 

 November to May. Guatemala. 1842. as. 6(1. 

 But the varieties, which are innumerable, command 

 a much higher price. 



„ alha, or virginalis. — The albino form. Pure 

 white, as if carved in alabaster, but on the lip a 

 faint tinge of yellow. A heavenly ilower. 



Masdevallia. 

 (Seiior Masdeval, a botanist of New Granada.) 



This genus is not universally favoured ; but those 

 who admire, love it. One of the latter class 

 myself, I have tried to ascertain why all the world 

 does not agree with us. No mortal could dispute 

 the supreme brilliancy of the Hcvrryana section, 

 which is that most familiar, glowing as rubies, 

 some even of the priceless " pigeon-blood " tint. 

 They are of good size, also, and they stand erect, 



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