PL. 76. MASDEVALLIA DAVISII.

MASDEVALLIA DAVISII.
[[Plate 76].]
Native of Peru.

Epiphytal. Stems slender, densely cæspitose. Leaves erect, dark green, leathery in texture, evergreen, six to eight inches long, narrowly ligulate-oblong, acute, carinate, narrowed downwards into the shortish petiole, which is invested at the base by a pale green sheath, an inch long, and having a shorter one at its base. Scapes slender, longer than the leaves, sheathed at the base, and furnished also with a sheathing oblong bract about their centre, and another just below the flower. Flowers nearly horizontal, golden yellow; sepals united into a sub-cylindraceous tube, half an inch long, gibbous at the base, the dorsal one ovately-triangular, passing into the filiform apex, which is three-fourths of an inch long, the lateral ones broader and longer, connate to beyond the middle, semi-oblong-ovate, broadest at the base, and suddenly acuminate near the apex, the opening having a narrow sinus; petals small, dimidiate-oblong; lip shorter than the petals, clawed, its limb linear-oblong, obtuse, deep crimson, sunk in the base of the sepaline tube, and there appearing like a small red eye at the bottom. Column wingless, toothed at the apex.

Masdevallia Davisii, Reichenbach fil., in Gardeners’ Chronicle, N.S., ii., 710; Id. Xenia Orchidaceæ, iii., t. 3; Hooker fil., Botanical Magazine, t. 6190.

New Masdevallias are being introduced to cultivation every year, but it is seldom that we get such a distinct and beautiful species as the subject of our plate, brought under our notice. This little gem is distinct from the other members of this ever-increasing genus both in regard to form and colour, and should be sought for and added to every collection where Masdevallias are grown. Our figure was taken from a plant belonging to W. Lee, Esq., Downside, Leatherhead, in whose collection these singular plants are well cared for, and at the time of our visit were looking remarkably well.

Masdevallia Davisii was discovered in 1874, by Mr. W. Davis, when travelling in Peru, at a considerable elevation, and was sent home by him to the Messrs. Veitch and Sons, of Chelsea, who distributed the plant. The flowers are produced singly on the erect peduncles, which proceed from the base of the leaf-bulb, and are generally produced in October and November, lasting several weeks in perfection. The colour is a bright chrome yellow, which from its distinctness contrasts well with any other kinds of Masdevallias that may chance to be in flower at the same time.

Masdevallia Davisii requires the same treatment as that recommended for M. Harryana cœrulescens, under [Plate 24], and is propagated in the same way.

The Effect of Fog on Orchids.—It is astonishing to notice the effects upon Orchids of this the most disagreeable of all natural phenomena. The most vexing part of the matter is, that as regards the culture of Orchids we are unable to cope with it. Extremes of heat and cold, high winds, and hailstorms, heavy falls of snow and rain—all these we are in a great measure able to prevent from doing any harm to our plants; but the fog demon, however careful we may be, outdoes us. We may keep our doors closed, pull down the blinds, shut up the ventilators, but still he is upon us, entering by the laps of the glass, or through the crevices of the framework of the house. Nearly all Orchids which happen to be either in flower or bud at the time a fog comes on, fall a prey to its destructive powers. We have seen hundreds of buds of Phalænopsis, flowers and buds of Calanthe, and the inflorescences of Cattleyas, and other Orchids, turn yellow, and the flowers drop off in a very few hours. All this is extremely vexing, especially if after having watched some favourite plant, perhaps for years, just as it is showing flowers for the first time, we see them thus come to an untimely end. It is fortunate that some of the Orchid flowers are able to withstand its effects. Of course, our brother cultivators in the country have not so much to fear as those have who are located in the immediate neighbourhood of the metropolis and other large cities, and we are inclined to envy them their purer surroundings at this trying season of the year—H. W.