Trisetella gemmata (Rchb. f.) Luer 1980 SECTION Trisetella SUBSECTION Calvicaulis Luer 1989
Photo by © Eric Hunt
TYPE Drawing by Carl Luer
Common Name The Sparkling Trisetella
Flower Size 3/4" [2 cm]
Found in Antioquia department on the central cordillera of Colombia at elevations of 1700 to 1900 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool growing epiphyte with slender roots, erect ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 thin tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, narrolwy elliptical, acute to subacute leaf that is faintly motttled beneath with purple that blooms in the fall on a erect, arising from low on the ramicaul, with a bract below the middle, slender, smooth, 1.6" to 5.4" [4 to 6 cm] long, successively single, 2 to 6 flowered, racemose inflorescence with shorter than the pedicel floral bracts.
This species can be distinguished from others by it's cymbiform synsepal that is broadly concave towards the middle and covered within by tiny, red, glandular hairs that sparkle. The petals are elliptical, the lip is ovate and broadest towards the base and narrowest at the apex.
Synonyms *Masdevallia gemmata Rchb. f. 1883; Triaristella gemmata (Rchb. f.) Luer 1978; Triaristellina gemmata (Rchb. f.) Rauschert 1983
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
Atlas des Orchidees Cultivees Constantin 1920 as Masdevallia gemmata drawing fide;
Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965 as Masdevallia gemmata;
Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol VI Systematics of Pleurothallis subgen Ancipita, Scopula and Trisetella Luer 1989 drawing fide;
Native Colombian Orchids Vol 4 COS 1992 photo ok;
Orquideologia Vol 29 #1 2012 photo ok;
Orchids Masdevallia with its segregates including Dracula Zelenko 2014 photo fide;
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