Masdevallia apoloae (Luer & Sijm) J.M.H.Shaw 2016 SUBGENUS Polyantha SECTION Alaticaules SUBSECTION Alaticaules [Krzl.] Luer 1986

TYPE Drawing by © Carl Luer

LATER

Common Name or Meaning Apolo's Masdevallia [Carmen Apolo Ecuadorean orchid collector of the species current]

Flower Size .4" [1 cm]

Found in Zamora Chinchipe province of Ecuador at elevations around 1250 meters as a mini-miniature to miniature sized, cool growing, caespitose epiphyte with erect ramicauls enveloped by 2 to 3 tubular sheaths and carrying an erect, thickly coriaceous, elliptical, subacute, cuneate below into the sessile base leaf that blooms in the later spring on an erect, stout, arising from low on the ramicaul, triquetrous peduncle 2.8 to 3.6" [7 to 9 cm] long, congested, more or less simultaneously 2 flowered inflorecence with oblique, acute, as long as the pedicel floral bracts and carrying light yellow flowers.

"Similar to the flowers of the well-known Masdevallia bicolor Poepp. & Endl. but they are truly bicolored, with the dorsal sepal a shade of yellow or orange and the synsepal dark purple. The completely light yellow flower of M apoloae with short, thick tails immediately distinguishes this species from the superficially similar A. bicolor. Other minor differences noted are the thickened veins of the lateral sepals, and a slight but distinct retrorse protrusion of the tip of the longitudinal callus of the petal at the base." Luer & Sijm 2012

Synonyms *Alaticaulia apoloae Luer & Sijm 2012

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Harvard Papers in Botany, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 333 to 368 2012 MISCELLANEOUS NEW SPECIES IN THE PLEUROTHALLIDINAE (ORCHIDACEAE) Carlyle A. Luer and Lisa Thoerle as Alaticaulia apoloae drawing fide

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