Masdevallia gargantua Rchb.f. 1876 SUBGENUS Masdevallia SECTION Coriaceae SUBSECTION Coriaceae Rchb.f 1874
Photos by © Martyn Tidball
Drawing by Luer and © The Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Jany Renz Herbaria
Common Name Gargantua's Masdevallia [Fictitious king in novel by Rabelais]
Flower Size 2" [5 cm]
Found in Antioquia department of Colombia without locality as a small sized epiphyte with erect, stout ramicauls enveloped by 2 to 3, loose, tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, thickly coriaceous, elliptical-oblong, obtuse to rounded, gradually narrowing below into the cuneate petiolate base leaf that blooms in the spring on an suberect, to 2 to 4" [5 to 10 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul holding the flower at mid leaf with a tubular floral bract.
Synonyms Byrsella gargantua (Rchb.f.) Luer 2006
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; *Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXI Masdevallia Part 2 Luer 2000 drawing fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVIII Luer 2006 as Byrsella gargantua ; Libro Rojo de Plantas De Colombia Vol 6 Primera Parte Saenz 2007; Orchids Masdevallia with its segregates including Dracula Zelenko 2014 photo fide;
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