Masdevallia.—Dwarf, tufted plants, with pretty and varied flowers, from high ranges in South America. They should be grown in the cool or Odontoglossum house. Pot them in equal proportions of Sphagnum-moss and peat, with a little sand and fine crocks. The species of M. chimæra section should be grown in suspending baskets or pans, and given a rather warmer situation than those of the showier M. Harryana (coccinea) and M. Veitchiana sections, being placed in the cool end of the intermediate house in winter. M. tridactylites, M. O'Brieniana, M. ionocharis, and many others form an interesting section of dwarf Orchids, with singular, insect-like flowers. The Masdevallias require to be kept moist all the year, and are benefited by occasional division when being repotted in spring or late summer.
Maxillaria.—An extensive genus, widely distributed in South America, and extending to the West Indies. All the species are intermediate-house plants, requiring the ordinary potting material for epiphytes. The flowers are varied in form and colour from the white M. grandiflora and M. venusta to the large claret-blotched M. Sanderiana. Many of the species have fragrant flowers.
Megaclinium.—A singular genus from Tropical Africa, closely allied to Bulbophyllum, their chief characteristic being the singular flat rachis of the inflorescence, which bears a single row of insect-like, brownish flowers on each side. M. Bufo, the type species, is probably not now in gardens. M. falcatum is the commonest, and M. purpureorachis, M. triste, and several other species are sometimes seen. They should be grown in the warm house in baskets or pans.
Microstylis.—The species of Microstylis should be grown as terrestrial Orchids in Sphagnum-moss and peat, with fine crocks added. Rest the deciduous species in dry and cooler conditions.
Miltonia.—The Miltonias are compact-growing South American epiphytes, to be grown in pans elevated in a sheltered corner of the intermediate house. Pot the plants in ordinary material for epiphytal Orchids, and surface the compost with living Sphagnum-moss. M. vexillaria, M. Roezlii, M. Warscewiczii, formerly included in Odontoglossum, form a section requiring to be grown like Odontoglossums, but rather warmer. This section has been found to thrive well with a good proportion of leaves in the compost. Miltonia vexillaria, "Empress Victoria," is illustrated in [Plate II].
Mormodes.—Grow these with the Catasetum and Cycnoches, and treat them similarly by resting them dry. The genus is a singular one, the curiously formed, generally fragrant flowers being very attractive.
Neobenthamia.—N. gracilis is an elegant, white-flowered, slender species from Tropical Africa, and it should be grown in warm-intermediate temperature.
Nephelaphyllum.—Dwarf, terrestrial species for the warm house. Grow with Anœctochilus.
Notylia.—Graceful epiphytes for baskets and suspending pans. Intermediate house.
Octomeria.—A genus allied to Pleurothallis. The flowers are usually white and rather small.