| Masdevallia chimaera, Reichb. f. Fig. 2332. Tufted: lvs. oblanceolate-obtuse, 1 ft. long and l½ in. wide: peduncle wiry, erect, lateral or pendent several-fld., mostly shorter than the lvs.; fls. opening in succession; calyx-lobes ovate, yellowish, much spotted with deep crimson-purple, tapering into slender tails from 3-11 in. long, purple-brown; petals white, marked with crimson; labellum saccate, white, yellow or pinkish, very variable. Colombia. R.H. 1881:130. G.C. II. 3:41. C.O. 5.—One of the most fantastic of orchids, and the type of a most interesting group. | | Masdevallia chimaera, Reichb. f. Fig. 2332. Tufted: lvs. oblanceolate-obtuse, 1 ft. long and l½ in. wide: peduncle wiry, erect, lateral or pendent several-fld., mostly shorter than the lvs.; fls. opening in succession; calyx-lobes ovate, yellowish, much spotted with deep crimson-purple, tapering into slender tails from 3-11 in. long, purple-brown; petals white, marked with crimson; labellum saccate, white, yellow or pinkish, very variable. Colombia. R.H. 1881:130. G.C. II. 3:41. C.O. 5.—One of the most fantastic of orchids, and the type of a most interesting group. |
| Var.Backhousiana, Hort. (M. Backhousiana, Reichb. f.). Lvs. narrower than in the type: fls. large; calyx- lobes more round, paler, not so thickly spotted; tails short; labellum nearly white.—Perhaps a distinct species. | | Var.Backhousiana, Hort. (M. Backhousiana, Reichb. f.). Lvs. narrower than in the type: fls. large; calyx- lobes more round, paler, not so thickly spotted; tails short; labellum nearly white.—Perhaps a distinct species. |