Masdevallia amaluzae Luer & Malo 1978 subgen. Pygmaeia sect. Amaluzae Luer 1986

Mystery Flower Closeup anyone? Photo courtesy of © Lourens Grobler

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Common Name The Amaluzae Masdevallia [A town in Southern Ecuador]

Flower Size 1 1/5" [3 cm]

This species hails from Ecuador at altitudes of 1500 to 2450 meters as a miniature sized, cool to cold growing epiphyte with slender, suberect ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 loose, tubular sheaths carrying a single, apical, coriaceous, elliptical, acute leaf that is cuneate below into the slender petiole and blooms on a horizontal, slender, 2" [5 cm] long, successively few flowered, racemose inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul with a bract below the middle and a tubular floral bract.

The second photo is of a similar yet different species, if anyone is aware of what it may be please contact me.

Synonyms Luzama amaluzae (Luer & Malo) Luer 2006

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXI Systematics of Masdevallia Part 2 Luer 2000; Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 3 COS 2002;