Epiphytal. Stems slender, tufted. Leaves evergreen, coriaceous, ten to twelve inches long, with a nerveless elongate oblong-spathulate blade, obtuse or somewhat acute at the apex, channelled at the base, keeled behind, of a very dark green colour, narrowed downwards into the stout petiole, which is three to four inches long, deeply grooved in front, and invested at the base by long membranous brownish sheaths. Scape a foot long or more, brown, covered below with three or four bluntish sheaths, the upper of which is distant from the flower and closely appressed. Flowers large, peculiar in form, richly coloured, the colour varying in different forms, typically of a brilliant magenta-crimson; dorsal sepal elongate linear from a triangular base, sub-erect or reflexed; lateral sepals broadly semiovate, apiculate, connate to below the middle, deflexed, the tips approximate, all united below into a decurved tube, which is yellow (in the allied M. Lindeni the tube is white); petals small, hidden within the tube, linear-oblong emarginate, the base auriculate on one side; lip also small, enclosed, clawed, tongue-shaped, cordate at the base. Column rather longer than the lip, entire, not winged.
Masdevallia Harryana, Reichenbach fil., in Gardeners’ Chronicle, 1871, 1421; Florist & Pomologist, 1873, 169, with coloured figure; Belgique Horticole, 1873, t. 21; Flore des Serres, t. 2250.
Masdevallia Lindeni, Hooker, Botanical Magazine, t. 5990—fide Reichenbach.
Masdevallia Lindeni, var. Harryana, André, Illustration Horticole, 3 ser., t. 142.
Var. CŒRULESCENS: flowers of a rich magenta-crimson, with a bluish-purple flush or bloom; otherwise as in the type.
Masdevallia Harryana cœrulescens, Hort. plurim.; Bull, Catalogue of New Plants, 1877, p. 83.
We ought to be cordially grateful to our plant collectors for introducing to European gardens so brilliant, varied, and charming a set of epiphytal plants, as the several showy ornamental, and pleasingly grotesque species of the genus Masdevallia. There are indeed but few Orchids that possess such bright colours as are found therein. A few years since we had but two species that were really worth growing, namely, M. coccinea, of an orange-scarlet colour, and M. tovarensis, pure white. Then came M. Lindeni, a charming plant with flowers of a rich magenta-purple colour. M. Veitchiana, of which there are some very fine forms, made a fine contrast with its glowing orange-scarlet and bright yellow, the scarlet flushed with purple. The most beautiful, however, of all the Masdevallias are the varieties of M. Harryana, the colours of which—shades of magenta-crimson—are most intense and brilliant, many of the forms being also distinct in shape.
Masdevallia Harryana cœrulescens, our present subject, was forwarded to us by R. P. Percival, Esq., of Southport, who is forming what will in time doubtless become one of the best collections of these plants in the North of England. Whatever Mr. Percival takes in hand he carries out thoroughly, and this has led him to build separate houses to suit the different classes of Orchids. Now as Masdevallias prefer cool treatment they are best kept in a house by themselves: they require but a small one, as they take up very little room; indeed they will thrive well enough in the Odontoglossum house, for if their few wants are attended to, there are no freer growing plants in cultivation. They increase very fast under good treatment, and soon repay all the care which is bestowed upon them. They last a long time in beauty and make grand exhibition plants, producing also, when in bloom, a charming effect in the houses if intermixed with the various Odontoglots and other cool Orchids. There are so many varieties that some of them will always be in flower, but the best time to see them is from May to July. They are so accommodating to the grower that many wonderful specimens have been produced and exhibited during the last few years. When a plant is found to be too large it may be divided, and the divided portions will go on increasing.
We have found good fibrous peat and sphagnum moss to suit well as material for the potting of these plants. They thrive best in small pots. The roots should not be disturbed too often; when, however, they require fresh material to root in, it must be given them, as they are free rooting plants and prefer to have sweet wholesome soil about them. They must also have good drainage, for they need an abundant supply of water, and by giving them efficient drainage the water passes off quickly without doing any harm, which it would do if allowed to become stagnant about them. The plants should be placed near the light but so as to avoid the sun’s rays. A north house suits them best, as it shields them in summer from the heat of the day, which they do not like, in fact, they should be kept as cool as possible at all times, very little fire-heat being required in winter, and none during the summer. They like fresh air, but in winter cold draughts must be avoided. We find that they will thrive in a heat of from 45° to 50°: even somewhat less would suffice, but the temperature here named is the most suitable. Anyone, therefore, who possesses a small low house could grow them at a trifling expense.
They are easily propagated by dividing the tufts, leaving about three old stems and a leading growth associated. The best time for the division to be effected is just as they are beginning to grow. They should be placed in small pots until they are established, when they should be removed to larger ones.
Insects should be annihilated as soon as they put in an appearance. The thrips is their greatest pest. Cool Orchids, as a rule, are also subject to the attack of a small kind of snail, that increases very rapidly, if not kept under by constant watching night and morning. A few lettuce leaves placed in different parts of the house, or potatos or turnips cut in half and scooped out in the centre, form good traps for them, and by looking these over frequently many of them may be caught, as also by moving the plants, as they are apt to harbour about the pots.
PL. 25. CYMBIDIUM PARISHII.