Masdevallia amplexa Luer 1997 SUBGENUS Polyantha SECTION Alaticaules SUBSECTION Alaticaules [Krzl.] Luer 1986
Photo courtesy of © Lourens Grobler
Photo courtesy of Joyce Medcalf ©
TYPE Drawing by © Carl Luer
Common Name The Clasping Masevallia [refers to the petals]
Flower Size 2" wide [5 cm]
Found in Huanuco department of central Peru at elevations around 1800 to 2000 meters as a miniature sized, cool growing epiphyte with slender, erect ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, elliptic-oblong, subacute to obtuse, gradually narrows below into a cuneate, indistinct petiole that blooms on a erect, arising from the base of the ramicaul with a bract above the base, slender, triquetrous, successively single flowered, congested, racemose inflorescence with imbricating, acute, shorter than the ovary floral bracts and holding the flowers well above the leaves.
Similar to M carruthersiana but M amplexa it differs in the concave synsepal with the veins thickened within and relatively short recuving tails. Most different are the petals that clasp the column with dilated margins above the middle. The lip differs with the usual marginal folds becoming wing-like extentions of the margin above the middle." Luer 1997
Synonyms Alaticaulia amplexa (Luer) Luer 2006
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; * Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XV Systematics of Trichosalpinx Luer 1997 drawing fide; A Treasure of Masdevallia Vol 24 Luer & Dalstroem 1999 watercolor/drawing fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XIX Systematics of Masdevallia Part 1 Luer 2000 drawing fide; Masdevallia's in Kleur Vol 1 P M Oversteegen, Eisses & A P Sijm 2001 photo fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVIII Luer 2006 as Alaticaulia amplexa; Orchid Species of Peru Zelenko Bermudez 2009 photo fide; Orchids Masdevallia with its segregates including Dracula Zelenko 2014 photo fide;
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