Masdevallia aguirrei Luer & R.Escobar 1996 SUBGENUS Polyantha SECTION Alaticaules SUBSECTION Alaticaules [Krzl.] Luer 1986

TYPE Drawing by © Carl Luer

Common Name Aguirre's Masdevallia [Colombian Orchid Collector current]

Flower Size .8" [2 cm] wide

Found in Valle de Cauca department of Colombia without locational data as a miniature to small sized, caespitose epiphyte with slender, erect ramicauls enveloped by 2 to 3 tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, narrowly obovate, obtuse, cuneate below into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the summer on an erect, slender, triquetrous, from low on the ramicaul, peduncle 9.6 to 11.2" [24 to 28 cm] long, rachis short, congested, successively single, few flowered inflorescence with tubular, imbricating, shorter than the ovary floral bracts and carrying a flower with dark purple sepals, dull brown at the base, yellow green petals with purple dots on the labeller half and a red-purple lip.

"The species is allied to M cuprea and its relatives but the specices is distinguished by the long, slender, peduncle that far exceeds the long leaves. The peduncle bears a congested, successively few flowered raceme. The flower is relatively small with the deep purple tail-less synsepal expanded beyond the tube. The apices are acute, approximate, not thickened and are similar to M cuprea and its relatives. The lip is also similar, but differs with the acute margininal folds between the epichile and the hypochile." Luer 2000

Synonyms Alaticaulia aguirrei (Luer & R.Escobar) Luer 2006

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Icones Pleuorothallidinarum XIX Masdevallia Part 1 Luer 2000 drawing fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXVIII Luer 2006 as Alatacaulia aguirrei

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