OKCIIID CONFERENCE. 



81 



Masdevallia. — This popular South American genus now 

 numbers about one hundred species, of which nearly one-half, 

 viz., forty-eight species and varieties, were shown on this occasion. 

 The large and richly- coloured forms of M. Harry ana were 

 perhaps the most showy ; there were also two fine forms of 

 M. Veitchii, viz., gigantea and grandiflora. M. Shuttle- 

 worthii was also very attractive, as also were the great spider-like 

 flowers of M. chimeras. Perhaps the rarest and most interesting 

 plant in this group was a tiny specimen of the new M. race- 

 mosa( = M. Crossii), bearing erect spikes of vivid scarlet flowers. 

 These neat-habited plants divide the honours of what are known 

 as " Cool Orchids " with the genus Odontoglossum, and like 

 them often have especial greenhouses devoted to their culture. 

 Among the rarer kinds we noted M. amabilis, M. Armini, 

 M. Backhouseana, M. civilis, M. Gaireana, M. Houlteana, 

 M. psittacina, M. tridactylites, M. trichaete, M. trochilus, 

 M. Wagneriana, and M. xanthina, all hearty and well grown. 



Maxillaria. — The most remarkable species in this group 

 was the new M. Sanderiana, elsewhere alluded to in this report. 

 M. luteo-alba, M. triangularis, M. Turneri, M. Harrisonii, and 

 M. triangularis were also represented in good condition. 



Mesospinidium. — This genus, now more generally referred to 

 Odontoglossum, was represented by M. sanguineum only, a bright 

 rosy-flowered plant, not unlike the rare Odontoglossum roseum 

 in general habit and colour of its flowers. 



Megaclinium. — A small genus of African Orchids, interesting 

 as being representative of the Eastern bulbophylls. The small 

 dark purple or brownish flowers are borne on a curious wavy- 

 margined leaf-like spike. The plant exhibited came from 

 Mr. K. Lindsay, Curator of the Royal Botanical Gardens, 

 Edinburgh. 



Odontoglossum. — Of all the cool growing or temperate Orchids, 

 those of this group are now the most in favour with amateur 

 cultivators, and without a doubt 0. Alexandras is to-day the 

 most popular of all Orchidaceous plants whatever, it being grown 

 literally by the million in this country. Among the sixty-six 

 species and varieties shown at the Conference, the following 

 seemed especially worthy of extended notice : Mr. J. T. Peacock 

 sent a well-grown specimen of 0. Wilckeanum, which may be 



