May, 1909.] THE ORCHID REVIEW. 139 
uniformly moist. They are thus strictly alpine plants, and the genus 
Masdevallia may be taken as typical. 
Of this genus nearly a hundred species have been in cultivation at some 
time or other, and the majority of them can only be called botanical, though 
not by any means insignificant. We may limit our remarks to the smaller 
species. The Triaristella group contains several exquisite little plants, as 
M. triaristella, gemmata and tridactylites. Their flowers are borne upon 
capillary peduncles, and have been compared to gnats. They are produced 
with the utmost freedom. The leaves are very narrow, and a good 
specimen can be accommodated in quite a small pan. The M. caudata 
group contains several very pretty species, of which M. Estrade, 
Wageneriana, Arminii, and hieroglyphica may be mentioned. All are free- 
growing and floriferous under suitable treatment. Coming to the M. coriacea 
group, we find M. Reichenbachiana, Schroederiana, velifera, peristeria, 
leontoglossa, Rolfeana, floribunda, and others from which a selection can be 
made. The scarlet section hardly comes within the limits of our title, but 
we may claim M. racemosa, in spite of its brilliant scarlet flowers, and the 
beautiful M. rosea is not generally grown. Indeed, it is difficult to meet 
with it, and when obtained it requires more than ordinary care. Of the M. 
Chimera group, M. Chestertoni, Houtteana, bella, and one or two others, 
may well find a place. 
If one wants a really eccentric species, let him include M. muscosa, for its 
mossy peduncles are like nothing else, unless it be one or two other species of 
the same group—of which M. xipheres is also in cultivation—and its sensitive 
lip supplies a never-failing source of interest. When the flower opens the 
sepals curve back, and the lip is seen folded beneath the arch of the petals. 
Soon afterwards the blade gradually reflexes on its axis, and hangs in front 
of the flower on a kind of slender stalk. At the apex of the latter is situated 
a small tubercle, and if this is touched with a hair the lip immediately moves 
gently upwards, and then suddenly closes with a snap. This is evidently 
an arrangement for securing fertilisation by some particular insect. Let us 
imagine the plant to be in its native home. An insect alights on the lip, 
touches the sensitive tubercle, and is imprisoned in the cavity of the tube by 
the rapidly-closing lip. There is now a small opening between the apex of 
the lip and the petals, through which the insect would naturally crawl, 
bringing away the pollinia, to be left upon the stigma of the next flower 
visited. The mossy peduncle is evidently an adaptation to prevent crawling 
insects from gaining access to the flower. But we must leave Masdevallia 
and pass on. 
The allied genus Restrepia contains several very attractive species, of 
which R. striata, R. maculata and R. elegans are among the best, but several 
others are to be found in various collections, including the original R. 
