Masdevallia
(named after Dr. Masdevall, a Spanish botanist and physician). ORD. Orchideae. Of this genus upwards of 150 have been described as species. They are cool-house epiphytal Orchids, inhabiting the cool, wooded, mountainous regions of tropical America, from Peru to Mexico, a few being found in Brazil and Guiana. Flowers often beautifully coloured or variously spotted, medium or rather large, borne generally singly, but sometimes two or several, on radical stalks; sepals joined into a tube, except at their apices, where they are free, and drawn out into long, narrow tails; petals free, very small, concealed in the tube of the sepals, as is also the lip, which is sessile and articulated with the incurved, half-rounded column. Leaves coriaceous, narrowed downwards into petioles. Until a few years ago, Masdevallias did not find favour with English orchid-growers. This may, perhaps, be accounted for by the fact that the earliest introduced kinds were amongst the least showy of the whole genus. There is, however, another reason why the culture of Masdevallias has not yet become general, and that is, the difficulty of transit. Gathered in the high and cool mountain ravines of the Andes of Peru and New Grenada, at from 7000ft. to 10,000ft. elevation, they are packed in boxes, and have, perchance, to make a journey upon a mule's back for some two or three weeks before they reach the port of embarkation, every day's journey bringing them into a hotter region. The effect of this is that the plants are soon shrivelled up; and, as they have no pseudo-bulbs, in which to store nourishment, they are, in many instances, found, upon arrival in this country, to be a mass of useless rubbish. The plants flower two or three times in the course of the season. Masdevallias are not difficult to cultivate; indeed, there is, probably, no other genus of orchids which can be grown with so little trouble as the one under notice, providing always they have a cool, moist atmosphere, and are well shaded from the sun in summer. The plants thrive in peat and sphagnum, with good drainage, and are propagated by division.
M. abbreviata (shortened). fl. white, with a few purple spots; racemes few-flowered. l. spathulate, obtuse. Columbia, 1878. Closely allied to M. polysticta, but the flowers have usually far fewer dots. M. amabilis (lovely).* fl. orange-carmine. l. oblong-ovate, about 5in. long. h. 6in. Peru, 1874. A very pretty, free-flowering species. (I. H. n. s. 196.) M. anchorifera (anchor-bearing). fl. purple; the borders of the side sepals ochre, with purple spots; tails recurved raceme distichous; peduncle smooth. Costa Rica, 1884.
M. Arminii (Armin's). fl. rose-coloured, tinged with purple when expanded. M. attenuata (attenuated). fl. greenish-white; sepaline tails orange-yellow; petals white, with a green middle nerve; lip yellow. l. long-staiked, linear-ligulate. Costa Rica, 1871. (B. M. 6273.) M. Backhousiana (Backhouse's).* A fine species or variety, closely related to M. Chimaera, but the colours are much brighter and the flower much larger. Columbia, 1879.
M. Barlaeana (Barla's). fl. scarlet, very freely produced. Peru, 1876. A pretty species, closely allied to M. amabilis.
M. bella (handsome).* fl. dark purplish-brown, yellow inside, large; the odd sepal and the outer halves of the other sepals are densely blotched with dark purplish-brown, the colour of the long tails; the interior sides of the equal sepals and the base of the odd sepal are nearly ochre-yellow in colour. Columbia, 1878. (B. H. 1884, 57; G. C. n. s., xiii. p. 756.) M. brevis (short). fl., upper sepal yellow, with three rows of purple spots and a dark purple tail; lateral ones having the upper front area orange and purple, the rest brown; petals yellowish and brown, rhomboid, with an inflexed point; lip long, narrow, stalked, with a pandurate fimbriate blade. British Guiana, 1884.
M. calura (beautiful-tailed). fl., petals and lip brownish-purple, the inner surface covered with obtuse warts; column white, with numerous purple freckles; tails long. 1883.
M. campyloglossa (curved-lipped). fl. greenish-white, smaller than in M. coriacea, with nine purplish-black dots over the nerves; tails narrower, split half the length of the perigone; lip whitish, with three violet stripes, long, narrow, acute, angled on each side near the apex. 1878. M. chelsoni (Chelsea).* fl. white; lip pandurate, mauve at the border, brown at the blunt apex, white on the disk of the inner side, with a mauve line through the middle line beneath. l. with a very long petiolar part. 1880. A hybrid between M. Veitchiana and M. amabilis; it is believed to be the first Masdevallia raised from seed in Europe.
M. Chestertoni (Chesterton's). fl. greenish-sulphur, spotted black; sepals ovate, with black tails; petals orange, with two black spots and a tumour. Columbia, 1883. Allied to M. Nycterina.
M. Chimaera (Chimaera).* This plant is distinguished from M. Wallisii (which is usually grown under the name of M. Chimaera) by its very long, acuminate, tapering, triangular sepals, 10in. to 12in. long, blackish, dotted, and hairy, and by the lip having no angle at its base. (G. C. n. s., xvi. Fig. 26.) M. civilis (civil). fl. greenish-yellow, spotted inside with brown; sepals fused into a tube, terminating in three slender tails. l. fleshy, 4in. to 6in. long. Peru, 1864. (B. M. 5476.) M. coccinea (scarlet).* fl., sepals yellow outside, and to use the words of Dr. Lindley, as red as a soldier's coat within; lower sepals expanded and folded back, whilst the upper sepal is narrow and inclined to reflex. Winter. Pamplona, New Grenada. A rare but handsome species. (R. G. 870; R. X. O. 74.) M. coriacea (leathery). fl. yellowish, spotted with brownish-purple. h. 6in. Columbia, 1872. An interesting species.
M. corniculata (horned). fl. dark cinnamon-brown, as large as those of M. coriacea; petals terminating in an ascending, columnar, warty body. Columbia, 1878.
M. crassicaudata (thick-tailed). A variety of M. polysticta. M. cucullata (hooded). fl. glossy blackish-purple, whitish inside at base; tips of tails yellow. Columbia, 1883. A fine species. M. Davisii (Davis).* fl. rich orange-yellow, solitary. l. about 8in. long. Peru, 1874. A distinct and handsome species. (B. M. 6190.) M. Dayana (Day's). fl., upper sepal yellowish-white, with seven membranous keels spotted with purple; inferior connate sepals orange, with some purple-brown spots and borders towards the apex. l. flat, dark green above, purple beneath, 4 1/2in. by 3in. Columbia, 1880.
M. Denisoniana (Denison's). fl. dark crimson, with a magenta flush, very brilfiant. Columbia, 1873. Plant of dwarf tufted habit. (F. M. n. s. 79.) M. Eduardi (Edward Klaboch's). fl. red, two or three, borne on peduncles nearly 9in. high. l., blades scarcely above 1/2in. long and 2/3in. wide, produced at intervals of about 1in. along the creeping rhizome. Columbia, 1880. A pretty species.
M. ephippium (saddle).* fl. dark purplish-brown, with very long yellowish tails; veins of lower sepals washed outside with yellow; scape pluriflorous. l. oblong, obtuse, with long petioles. h. 1ft. Antioquia, 1874. SYN. M. Trochilus. (B. M. 6208; R. X. O. 195.) M. erinacea (prickly). fl. light ochre, with a dark purple ring on the rough ovary, and a few scattered spots, small; tails and disks of lateral sepals orange. l. linear-spathulate, 2in. long, obscurely tridentate. 1881. A small species.
M. erythrochaete (red-bristled).* fl. white and light yellow; sepals covered inside with styliform processes; tails reddish-purple; peduncles 4in. long. l. 1ft. long, 3/4in. broad. Central America, 1882. This resembles M. Houtteana, but is larger.
M. Estradae (Estrada's).* fl. with a purplish-mauve ground colour, the long sepals being pale yellow; scape erect, one-flowered. April. l. oblong-ovate, coriaceous, deep green, about 4in. long. New Grenada, 1874. A dwarf and profuse-flowering species. (B. H. 1875, 21; B. M. 6171.) M. floribunda (bundle-flowered).* fl. in a terminal umbel or corymb; petals white, with a triangular or square production on the inferior side, and a keel on the blade, retuse at its top, with three teeth; inferior sepals rounded at the top and suddenly extended into a short tail; the very small free part of the upper sepal is triangular, tapering into a tail; the tails are of a pretty yellow; lip nearly cordate at the base, constricted before the middle, whitish, with numerous brownish-purple spots. l. rather thick, spathulate, shining. Brazil, 1843.
M. Gargantua (Gargantua). fl. leather-yellow; lower part of tube velvet-purple, with three whitish stripes on each side; lip blackish-purple, rough; petals and column white, striped with lake. Columbia, 1876. M. Gaskelliana (Gaskell's).* fl. mauve-purple outside, with two yellow areas at the base and apex of the lateral sepals, and light yellowish, spotted with mauve, inside; tails mauve-purple. l. narrow-lanceolate, acute, 4in. long. 1883. An elegant plant.
M. gemmata (twin).* fl., dorsal sepal ochreous, triangular, with an orange tail of equal length; lateral sepals larger, oblique, ochreous at base, with orange nerves, the front part purple; tails orange, nearly as long as the body of the sepal; lip purple, cordate. l. linear-cuneate, 2in. long, obscurely tridentate at apex. 1883. A pretty dwarf species.
M. gibberosa (warted). fl. dark reddish; sepals connate at base, ascending, curved and bent when free, tails of lateral ones green; pedicels jointed to the ovaries; peduncle loosely racemose, covered with numerous warts. l. cuneate-ligulate, acute, very narrow above the articulation. h. 6in. Columbia, 1876.
M. gracilenta (slender). fl. blackish-purple, solitary or in pairs. l. oblong, acute, minutely three-toothed. Stems slender, 5in. to 7in. high, including the leaves. Costa Rica, 1875.
M. Gustavi (Gustav Wallis's). fl. yellowish, with a profusion of port-wine-coloured dots, and yellow tails, 1/2in. long, racemose. l. slender, lanceolate, on long petioles. New Grenada, 1875.
M. Harryana (Mr. Harry Veitch's). A synonym of M. Lindeni. M. heteroptera (various-winged). fl. quite open; upper sepal yellow, transversely barred with blackish-purple, oblong, with a short yellow tail; lateral sepals blackish-purple, narrower, convolute, with longer yellow tails; petals white; lip blackish-purple. New Grenada, 1875. A very pretty dwarf plant.
M. hieroglyphica (hieroglyphic). fl., upper sepal erect, flat, with three dark lines and numerous dark spots; lateral ones nearly square, marked with a dark purple-brown area, and the long tails suddenly bent down. Columbia, 1882. A distinct plant.
M. Houtteana (Van Houtte's). fl., sepals creamy-white, profusely spotted with blood-red, broad, each lengthened out into a thick, terete, red tail, and measuring from 2in. to 3in. long; scape one-flowered. July. l. 1ft. long, 1/2in. broad. Columbia, 1874. (F. d. S. 2106.) M. hypodiscus (beneath-disk). fl. deep purplish-violet, with a long narrow opening on each side, and having numerous whitish fringed crests all over the principal veins. l. lilac-purplish beneath, on long bent petioles. 1878. A fine species.
M. ignea (fiery).* fl. of a bright fiery red, often deeply shaded with crimson or violet-rose; upper sepal narrow, especially towards the apex, bent over the flower, by which peculiarity this species is easily recognised; scape one-flowered. l. on long petioles, oblong, obtuse. h. 6in. Columbia, 1871. The dazzling lustre of the flowers "is due to the refractive power of the fluid contained in the superficial bladdery cells of the sepals, and is, perhaps, unsurpassed for brilliancy in the vegetable kingdom." (B. M. 5962.) The variety Marshalliana has yellowish flowers, while Stobartiana has mauve-purple nerves.
M. inaequalis (unequal). fl. yellowish-white, finely spotted with purple, somewhat cup-shaped, but well expanded, with three slender tails, 1in. long. h. 6in. Columbia, 1874.
M. inflata (inflated). A species resembling M. corniculata, but the triangular bract is much wider and shorter, keeled at back. The flower is shorter, orange-yellow, and very much inflated.
M. infracta (broken). fl. whitish, dotted with brown, and furnished with yellow tails. Brazil, 1835. (B. H. 1873, 22.) M. ionocharis (violet-beauty).* fl. whitish-yellow, with a large purplish blotch, and a few similar smaller ones. September. l. oblong, with a very narrow petiolar part. h. 4in. Peru, 1875. (B. M. 6262.) M. Klabochorum (Klaboch's). fl. blackish-grey outside, white inside, with petals, lip, column, and tails yellow, when fully open 3in. in diameter from tip to tip of tails; peduncle one-flowered. l. oblong, obtuse. South-west America, 1876. A very distinct plant.
M. lata (broad). fl. dark brownish-red; broad lateral sepals forming part of tube very concave; tails yellowish; peduncle thin, two-flowered. Central America, 1877.
M. Lehmanni (Lehmann's). fl. orange-yellow; peduncle 9in. high. l. oblong, acute, shorter than the peduncle, on long petioles. Ecuador, 1877. This plant is something in the way of M. polysticta.
M. leontoglossa (lion's-tongue). fl. lemon and ochre, spotted with dark purple; lateral sepals united nearly to their apex; petals white, with two purple streaks; lip also white, with purple warts and blotches. 1881. M. Lindeni (Linden's).* fl. brilliant violet, rose, or magenta, with a white eye, borne singly on a peduncle, which is considerably longer than the leaves. Winter and early spring. l. oblong-lanceolate. New Grenada, 1869. SYN. M. Harryana. (F. M. 28.) The following are, amongst others, three handsome varieties: acanthifolia, with rich violet-rose coloured flowers; conchiflora, with rich rosy-lake flowers; and regalis, with dark glowing crimson flowers. M. Livingstoneana (Livingstone's). fl. greenish-yellow, with an elongated cup, brown at the apex; lateral sepals having dark purplish-brown, eye-like spots at the base. l. spathulate-obovate, obtusely emarginate. Panama, 1874. Habit tufted.
M. longicaudata (long-tailed). fl. rosy-white, deep rose inside, bell-shaped; tails upwards of 1in. long; scapes one or two-flowered. l. elliptic-oblong, fascicled. Brazil, 1869. (I. H. 1868, 109.) M. ludibunda (sportive). fl. light yellowish, purple-spotted; tails dark yellowish. Columbia, 1882. This form resembles M. Estradae, but the sepals are rounder, the tails longer, and the lip pandurate. (F. & P. 1882, 37.) M. macrodactyla (long-fingered). fl. greenish-yellow, racemose; lip blackish-purple. l. cuneate-oblong. New Grenada, 1872. M. macrura (long-tailed). fl. solitary; "the wide tube itself is very short, of firm texture, and slit into an upper and an inferior lip; the upper lip forms a short triangle, extending in a long, strong tail; the inferior lip is longer and broader, dividing in two long, strong, spreading tails; these tails are light yellow, the bodies themselves of the sepals light brownish, with dark purplish-brown spots; the petals, column, and lip, form, as usual, a small body, yellowish, with purplish dots, the middle lobe of lip being orange-yellow" (Reichenbach). Winter. l. 2in. to 3in. long. h. 1ft. Columbia, 1874. (G. C. n. s., vii. p. 13.) M. maculata (spotted). fl., sepals 2 1/2in. long, the upper ones yellow, the lower ones purple, tipped with green. l. spathulate. New Grenada, 1873. (F. d. S. 2150.) M. marginella (margined). fl. white, with the three main ribs and tail green, the latter bordered with orange, and orange outside; lobes and tails spreading, the latter as long as the rest of the flower; raceme one or two-flowered. l. broadly spathulate, shortly stalked. 1883. M. melanopus (black-stalked).* fl. white, with purplish dots and yellow tails. h. 6in. Peru, 1874. (B. M. 6258, under name of M. polysticta.) M. melanoxantha (blackish-yellow).* fl. 1in. long, with a short yellow tube; upper sepal yellowish, linear, acuminate; lower ones whitish-green outside, covered with small brownish warts, broader, bifid. l. ligulate, 1in. long, attenuated at base. New Grenada, 1875. A curious orchid. M. Mooreana (Moore's). fl. yellowish or light green outside, with darker nerves and a reddish hue under the lateral sepals; inside chocolate-brown, very rough; tails long. 1884.
M. muscosa (mossy). fl. yellowish, reddish-nerved; petals with very peculiar dilated apices; lip deep violet, bearded; peduncles hispid, two-flowered. New Grenada, 1875.
M. myriostigma (many-dotted). fl. yellowish, with small brown dots. l. oblong-spathulate. Mexico, 1874. A peculiar plant. (B. H. 1873, 23.) M. Nycterina (Nycterina). fl. pale yellow, finely blotched with reddish-brown, and covered with minute hairs; triangular in shape. h. 8in. Columbia, 1873. A pretty species for growing in a basket; it was first sent out by Linden as M. Chimaera, to which, however, it is much inferior. (F. M. n. s. 150; G. C. n. s., xvi. 337.) M. pachyantha (thick-anthered). fl. yellowish-ochre, or green lilac-brownish, with dark nerves on the upper sepals, and fainter ones on the lateral sepals; upper sepals triangular, with a long, thick tail; lateral ones deeply connate, with a short, thick tail. Columbia, 1884. This species somewhat resembles M. Gargantua.
M. pachyura (thick-tailed). fl. yellow, small, with numerous brownish-red spots, disposed in many-flowered racemes. Northern Peru, 1874. M. Parlatoreana (Parlatore's). fl. salmon-colour outside, finest scarlet, with amethyst warts, inside; lip oblong, with obscure lateral blunt lobes, white, with a very dark violet spot at the top. Peru, 1879. Allied to M. Barlaeana. M. Peristeria (dove). fl. honey-coloured, with very strong green ribs outside; lip amethyst-coloured. h. 6in. Columbia, 1873. (B. M. 6159.) M. picturata (variegated). fl., sepals whitish, oblong, quite free, with green nerves and tails, and spotted with blackish-purple, the lateral ones orange at the base; peduncles one-flowered. h. 2in. to 3in. Columbia, 1882. A small but pretty species.
M. platyglossa (broad-tongued). fl. light yellowish, small; tails short; lip broad, full of acute warts at the top. 1883.
M. polysticta (many-dotted).* fl. white, beautifully spotted with dark crimson; scape six to eight-flowered. h. 6in. Peru, 1874. One of the most attractive of the small-flowering species. (G. C. n. s., iii. 657.) M. crassicaudata is a variety with short, stout tails.
M. polysticta (many-dotted), of Hooker. A synonym of M. melanopus. M. porcelliceps (pig-snout). fl. yellowish, speckled with brown; petals white; lip covered with brown warts, rhomboid. 1883. A small but pretty species. M. psittacina (parrot-like). fl. dull-coloured, small, solitary. Columbia, 1876.
M. pulvinaris (cushioned). fl. olive-green, with purplish tails and blotches; remarkable for the two cushions on the lower connate sepals. 1880. M. radiosa (radiating). fl., sepals light ochre-coloured on the internal upper part; the larger inner part looks blackish-purple, from being densely covered with blackish warts on a purplish ground; petals whitish, with a brown blotch at the base; lip white, with the upper surface of the radiating dissepiments reddish, and with a few fringes at the black apex. Columbia, 1877. M. Reichenbachiana (Reichenbach's).* fl. 2in. long; the funnelshaped tube and slender tails whitish-yellow, with the back part blood-red. l. spathulate, narrowed towards the base, tridentate at apex. Costa Rica, 1875. aurantiaca is a fine variety, with rich orange lateral sepals.
M. Roezlii (Roezl's).* fl., sepals blackish india-purple, with darker warts, and having a few short light purple hairs on the edges; petals light mauve, with some dark-eyed blotches; lip also light mauve. Columbia, 1880. A handsome plant. (R. X. O. ii. 186.) M. rosea (rosy). fl. rosy-purple, about 2in. long, solitary. Columbia, 1880. A handsome species. (G. C. n. s., xiii. 680.) M. Schlimii (Schlim's).* fl. yellow, mottled with brownish-red spots; the combined body of the two lower sepals produced much beyond that of the upper one and somewhat pandurate in outline; tails 1in. long; scape three to six-flowered, twice as long as the leaves. l. spathulate-elliptic, 6in. to 12in. long. Venezuela, 1884. A large and rather showy species. (B. M. 6740; G. C. n. s., xix. Fig. 80.) M. severa (severe). fl. port-wine-brown or maroon, transversely barred with yellow; the asperities ending in short bristles. l. large, spathulate-oblong. Columbia, 1875. This plant is allied to M. Chimaera, M. Roezlii, and M. Shuttleworthii.
M. Shuttleworthii (Shuttleworth's).* fl. richly streaked with purple, green, and yellow; sepals spreading, with long tails. h. 4in. Columbia, 1874. A very pretty species. (B. M. 6372.) xanthocorys is a variety with a nearly yellow dorsal sepal, finely striped with brown lines.
M. simula (pug-nosed). fl. purplish, honey-coloured in front, small; upper sepal purplish, with pellucid bars. l. linear-lanceolate. New Grenada, 1875. M. spectrum (spectre). fl. disposed in three-flowered racemes; sepals narrow, mottled with violaceous or blackish-purple dots, and having yellow tails as long as themselves. Columbia, 1875. Allied to M. severa. M. splendida (splendid).* fl., tube rich scarlet, with a violet sheen, long and slender, with abrupt tails; petals white; lip white, with a violet disk, and a dark violet knob at the apex Andes, 1878. A beautiful species, somewhat resembling M. Veitchiana.
M. swertiaefolia (Swertia-leaved). fl. variously-coloured; at first ochre, with brown spots; afterwards purple, with the exception of the inner sides of the lateral sepals and their tails, which are yellow; peduncles one or several-flowered. l. resembling those of Swertia perennis. New Grenada, 1880. A curious plant.
M. torta (twisted). fl. light ochre, dotted and striped with purple, broad-cupped; tails yellow inside, the lateral ones twisted. l. cuneate-ligulate, acute, bidentate, on long petioles. 1883. M. tovarensis (Tovar).* fl. pure white, usually in pairs on a peduncle which springs from the base of, and is a little longer than, the leaves. Autumn and winter. l. somewhat spathulate, coriaceous, deep green, erect, about 6in. high. Tovar, Columbia, 1865. (B. M. 5505.) M. triangularis (three-angled). fl., sepals expanding widely, light ochre-colour, with innumerable light, elegant, brownish-purple spots; petals small, white; lip rhombic, white, spotted all over with purple spots; its opposite part shows two triangular side laciniae and a cuneate-oblong, fringed, small, blackish-purple middle lacinia: these latter-mentioned parts are reflexed in a very elegant manner. Winter. l. cuneateoblong. Venezuela, 1842.
M. triaristella (three-bristled).* fl. brown and yellow; lower sepals connate into a boat-shaped lip, with a long bristle on each side; upper sepal also ending in a bristle, 2in. from end of upper to end of lower sepal; petals whitish; peduncles one or two-flowered, minutely warted, 4in. to 5in. long. l. canaliculate, 1in. long, terete. Costa Rica, 1876. Very distinct. (B. M. 6268.) M. trichaete (three-bristled). This much resembles M. triglochin, but has longer leaves and smaller flowers, the latter of a rich brown-purple, with orange tails, and some parts of the base orange, with brown nerves. h. 3in. M. tridactylites (three-fingered). fl. small; dorsal sepal yellow; lateral ones brownish-purple; tails orange, sigmoid, blunt; peduncles very slender. l. very thin, semiterete, acute, channelled.
M. triglochin (three-hooked).* fl. small but beautiful, borne, several in succession, on a peduncle not much longer than the leaves; sepals red, with yellow tails; petals pale yellow, blotched with red on the disk; lip pale, with some red on each side at base. l. light glaucous-green, spotted with violet beneath, 1 1/2in. long, thick, narrow, spathulate-cuneate, acute. Ecuador, 1878. A very dwarf plant, of neat habit.
M. Trochilus (Trochilus). A synonym of M. ephippium. M. troglodytes (Troglodyte). fl. whitish outside. inside and tails purple-brown, mottled on the margin with yellow, spotted on the sides and apex with red-brown; tails almost equal, 1 1/2in. to 2in. long; perianth open, 3/4in. in diameter; scape one-flowered. l. linear-lanceolate, tridentate at apex. Columbia, 1878. (B. H. 1877, 5.) M. Tubeana (Tube's). fl., sepals brownish-violet, with a yellow base and rather long tails; petals white, as are also the lip and column. l. soft, cuneate-oblong, acute, 1ft. long, petiolate. Ecuador, 1878. M. urostachya (tail-spiked). fl. dark brown, with small orange markings, more numerous, longer-stalked, and smaller than in M. Schlimii, which this plant otherwise resembles. 1882.
M. Veitchiana (Veitch's).* fl. solitary; outer surface of the sepals tawny-yellow, the inner surface rich orange-scarlet; nearly the whole of this portion is densely set with short, erect, woolly glands, or papillae, which are tipped with rich purple. Autumn and winter. l. about 8in. long, coriaceous, dark green. Peru, 1867. Probably the finest species yet introduced. (B. M. 5739.) grandiflora is a magnificent form, with very large flowers.
M. velutina (velvety). fl. rosy-violet and white, velvety within, as large as those of M. Estradae, but with longer tails; peduncle slender, dark violet, one-flowered. l. ligulate, in dense tufts. h. 6in. Columbia, 1875. M. vespertilio (bat-like). fl., sepals pale yellow, blotched with brownish-purple, having numerous yellow bristles inside, and yellow tails longer than their body; petals brown and yellow, small; the lip is extended in a broad, transverse, keelless epichile, the small hypochile with a somewhat horseshoe-like, blunt, angular keel; column white. Columbia, 1877. M. Wageneriana (Wagener's). fl. yellow, with a rhomboid toothleted lip. l. small, short-stalked, very thick. h. 4in. Central America. (B. M. 4921.) M. Wallisii (Wallis's).* fl. yellow, spotted with blood-red, 8in. from tip to tip of the dorsal and lateral sepals; sepals hispid with soft, spreading hairs on the inner surface, suddenly contracted into slender red-purple tails, 3in. long; margins reflexed; petals very short, 1/6in. long; lip 1/3in. long, spathulate. December. l. narrowly oblanceolate, acute, 6in. to 9in. long. New Grenada. This plant is usually cultivated under the name of M. Chimaera, and is figured as such in B. M. 6152. discoidea is a pretty variety, with a white disk at the apex of each sepal, and with a stronger beard. M. Winniana (Winn's). This species is similar to M. Roezlii, but larger; the flowers are lighter in colour, with more gradually tapering sepals, and an erect peduncle. 1881.
M. xanthina (yellow). fl. bright yellow, dark violet at the very base of even sepals, which are a little narrower than the odd one; lip yellowish, with a knob at the apex. l. cuneate-oblong. 1880.
M. xanthodactyla (yellow-fingered). fl. greenish-white, with yellow tails; lip and column nicely mottled and marbled with dark brownish-violet. October. Tropical America, 1877.