Plate 409. 
DRACAENA, Mrs. WILLS. 
Dracsenas play such an important part in these days for exhibition, decorative, and 
market purposes, that no apology is necessary for giving an illustration of one of the 
most useful of recently-introduced varieties. 
Dracasna Mrs. Wills is one of a batch of seedlings raised a few years ago by Mr. F. 
Bause, at the Melbourne Nursery, Anerley, formerly Mr. John Wills, but now in the 
possession of the General Horticultural Company (John Wills), Limited. It was raised 
from a cross between D. Concinna and D. Regina, and is a thoroughly distinct form of 
dwarf and compact habit, the leaves margined, much flaked, and in the young state wholly 
creamy-white. This, in combination with a lively green, imparts to the foliage a peculiarly 
attractive character. One great charm about this variety is that quite young plants are 
as handsomely marked as in plants of larger size. Mr. Fitch made his sketch from a 
specimen in a small pot, and nothing can give a better idea of its value as a table plant. 
Plate 410. 
MASDEYALLIAS. 
Some of the most brilliant-coloured of the species and varieties comprehended in this 
genus are finding so much favour among cultivators of cool orchids, that a coloured 
representation of three of the finest of them will be certain to be acceptable to our readers. 
Masdevallia represents a large genus of small growing Epiphytes from the high 
mountain regions of South America, many of them small flowered, and having no interest 
from a decorative point of view ; while others rank among the most brilliant of orchids. 
Three of these are represented in the accompanying illustration. Fig. 1, Lindeni, has 
large well-shaped flowers of a violet-rose, or brilliant magenta colour, most showy and 
striking. Fig. 2, Coccinea, has been well described by Dr. Bindley as “ a most charming 
thing, with flowers as red as a soldier’s coat.” It is rich in colour, with the orange 
predominating over the scarlet. Fig. 3, Harryana, has large flowers of a violet-crimson 
colour shading to scarlet, and is one of the handsomest and most distinct of the genus. 
There are many varieties of this species, those represented being the best. 
