[105]

(1)

Masdevallia fenestrata. Oct. 24. 1862. Kew (4)

The flowers get less dark purple & longitudinally streaked, as they grow old

[sketch: ovarium; very concave on this flat under side where labellum lies.]

Chamber within is not dark. Labellum has broad rectangular central channel & does not lie quite close to column. It is elastic & rests partly against the lower in position broad sepal (ie two lower sepals united). I suspect small insect crawls in & is forced by labellum to keep close to column. Stigma of good size, & pretty broad & not deep when mature. Sides of column with [membranous] wings, ending in upward point, on each side of stigma. Window on each side right over column, caudicles of pollen-masses come just to edge of anther, which is hinged far back & so can easily be turned back. Rostellum hinged & can be turned back; cannot be well turned downwards. Rostellum when mature seen from above, Viscid matter sets soon. [sketch]

[105v]

Does not seem at all adapted for proboscis. It is in fact like a Cattleya. Must be some very minute insect, name Herminium.

[106]

(2)

There is no change in position or form in any part when mature. The Rostellum cannot be much depressed owing to curling margin; but it can be largely upturned, when ruptured, the anther is upturned & minute caudicles adhere pretty readily to tip of bent needle, which had upturned it.

Whole anther come off very easily, but can subsequently is removed without difficulty. Whole rostellum with slight violence comes off. I have hardly a doubt that minute insects crawl in, & alight on Labellum, & go to horns at base of column for nectar & in crawling back lift up & get back smeared with viscid matter remove pollinia, which easily afterwards adhere to stigma - some insect had entered, for I found many eggs on one flower, low down, apparently of some fly.