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,IR|Í!,
M A S D E V A L L I A B A C KHOUS I ANA RM./.
Saccilabiata affini^ Masdevallia; Chima;ra: Rchb. f. ct Wallísii Rchb r, sepalis ov
<lcnt!culaü! inlus aspe-rulo muricnlis, tumore áspero mtus, Ubolli an¿ulis KOITIMIIS car
olongala limbo involuto dcrrticulam, eani.is per discum teri.is, mmuiis cxtcmis carinatis carinis
MASDEVALUABACKIIOUSUNA, Rclib. f.,G!ird. Chron, I8?9 JUNE? p. 7,61 V.ILLUS OROT
[luipurcis. "" ' 'I' porresti. Flores ampli. Sépala lato tnanpila cai;tlas'non iqiiantia, ¡nlus'
n Nova
mgiilis Inlís, tepalis minutis apice triangulo bivalvibu.«, valvis
utrinquc argulis, lamina oblonga dongala saccaia
limbi prc^-rcii ioni ¡bus lobulifcria,
Rchb.í Kolia cunéalo oblonga acuta
margine filis hirsuW; scu ochrolcuc.i suíTusa, macuiis
lígale House, York, //. C é.f.
indentations. It has a whitish n
those of Masdevailia bella, Rchb. f., but I v
and free from undulations {1881, March 31).
topa I is be
THIS IS a grand Oiimjcroid. It is coloured much like the well-known Masdevailia Wallisii (the usual Chimera of
KTirdens), but the colours arc much brighter, and the flower much larger, white and yeIlo,vish, with very fine purple partly
hieroglyphic spots. The lip is rather „arrow, with numerous teeth around its narrow opening, wiS, ;u;erous
h yellowish hue. I had some doubts as to the leaves, when compared with
s informed by Mr. James Backhouse that those are narrowei- and more acute,
//. G. Rchb. f .
FEW plants have excited more interest among lovers of the curious in nature than those strange looking Orchids
which for,n what is known as the Chima:roid group of Masdevallias; they have a weird unn,„ver-like look aI>out their
blossoms not possessed by any other Orchid. The subjcct of our present plate is, unquestionably, one of the most
wonderfu of the group, as well as the most beautiful, as its flowers arc ve;y larg. and present a strange harmony of
colour. It IS, obviously, very closely allied to the typical species of the group, M. Chim.-era, but differs on account of its
larger flowers, less attenuated sepals, and brighter colours. The flower measures f.dly ,2 inches across. The outspread
sepals are pale yellow, copiously spotted with rcd<li5h chocolate, and are covered on their inner surfaces \vith a coatine
of bristly hairs. The pouch-like lip is also different from typical M. Chim.xra. It is extremely floriferous, and it is nol
uncommon to see well-grown specimens car^'ing scores of flowers, forming a complete fringe round the base of the plant
Ihis species was flr.st discovered and sent to England by Messrs. Backhouse's collector, Buticr, who found it near Frontino
tlK capital of Antioquia, in South America. This was about seven years ago, and subsequently it was sent home l^J
Carder, and later by our collectors, Falkenberg- and Schmidfchen ; it still, however, remains a com|)aratively rare Orchid
I'ortunately, it is a free grower and not difficult to manage. It requires to be grown in an intermediate temperature,
such as that of a Cattleya house, selecting for it the coolest part. The plant should be grown in a suspended wood
basket, preferably that known as boat-shaped with open ends, as this form allows the flowers to protrude more freely and
regularly. A suitable compost for this and other Chima:roid Masdevallias should consist of chopped sphagnum moss
fibrous peat and lumps of charcoal, with an addition of river .sand to make it porous. At no season must this or any
other Chima3roid Masdevailia be allowed to become dry. Abundance of water must be given from spring until autumn
reducing the quantity during winter, otherAvise an excess during cold weather is likely to produce leaf-spot. In order
to keep these Masdevallias constantly moist during active growth, it is a good plan to dip the baskets in a tub of tepid
water about twicc a-week. The temperature must not be allowed to fall below 50 deg. F. in winter, and in summer an
e.\ce.ssive degree of sun heat must be modified by shading and moisture. Where there is not a special Masdevailia house
it is advisable to grow the plants, from about the end of September till the end of March, at the cool end of the Cattleya
house, and during the rest of the year in the cool Odoutoglossum house, which is generally well shaded. These
Chimzeroid Masdevallias have no particular flowering se.nson, but bloom most abundantly during early s
Drawn from a plant in the possession of W. Vaiincr, l£sq„ Camden Wood, Cliislehurst, Kent.
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