Masdevallia lilianae Luer 1991 SUBGENUS Masdevallia SECTION Coriaceae SUBSECTION Coriaceae Rchb.f 1874
Photo courtesy of Erica Moron de Abad © and Her Biorquidtropic Peru Lab Web Page
Photo by Ron Parsons ©
TYPE Drawing by Carl Luer
Common Name Lillian's Masdevallia [Mrs Severin - American Orchid Enthusiast current]
Flower Size 1" [2.5 cm]
Found in Peru at elevations around 2300 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cold growing epiphyte with slender, erect ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, elliptical-oblong, obtuse, cuneate below into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the spring on a slender, erect, 4 1/4" to 6.2" [11 to 16 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence arising from above the base of the ramicaul, with a thin bract on the lower third and a tubular floral bract
Masdevallia melina has been offered as a synonym of this species and could be, more research is nessesary, Obvious differences are the length of the lateral tails and if they are recurved or not. M lilianae has longer, recurved tails.
Synonyms Byrsella lilianae (Luer) Luer 2006;
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXI Systematics of Masdevallia Part 2 Luer 2000; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXIII Systematics of Masdevellia Part 4 Luer 2002 drawing fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVIII Luer 2006 as Byrsella lilianae; Orchids Masdevallia with its segregates including Dracula Zelenko 2014 photo fide;
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