Masdevallia prodigiosa Koniger 1979 SUBGENUS Masdevallia SECTION Masdevallia SUBSECTION Caudatae Veitch 1889
Photos by © Pieter C. Brouwer and his Nature Photo Website
Photo by Dale and Deni Borders.
Photo courtesy of Eric Hunt.
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Common Name The Extraordinary Masdevallia
Flower Size 2 1/2 to 3" [6 to 8 cm]
Found in Peru in cloudforests at elevations of 2000 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool to cold growing epiphyte with blackish, slender, erect ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 tubular sheaths carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, elliptic-obovate, obtuse to rounded leaf that is cuneate below into the petiole that has large flowers on a lax, 1 1/2" to 2 1/2" [4 to 6 cm] long, reclining, single flowered inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul with a bract near the base and a tubular floral bract carrying the single , outward facing flower held below the leaves. This cold to cool growing species is best potted in a well draining mix and kept moist year round. Separated form others by the brilliant yellow to orange flowers on a horizontal inflorescence with the flower facing outwards, a dorsal sepal that is deeply cucullate above the erect lip, lateral sepals that are connate into a transverse, convex lamina below.
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Thesarus Masdevalliarum Vol 1 Luer & Treschslin 1983 watercolor fide; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; Masdevallia's in Kleur Vol 1 P M Oversteegen, Eisses & A P Sijm 2001 photo fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXIII Systematics of Masdevallia Part 4 Luer 2002 drawing fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 72 No 9 2003 photo fide; Orchid Digest Vol 72 No 4 2008 photo fide; Orchid Species of Peru Zelenko Bermudez 2009 photo fide; Mille et Une Mini Orchideees Roguenant 2009 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 80 #3 2011 photo fide; Las Orquideas del Peru Izerskyy & Bezverhov 2011 photo fide; Orchids Masdevallia with its segregates including Dracula Zelenko 2014 photo fide;
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