Masdevallia foetens Luer & R. Escobar 1979 SUBGENUS Masdevallia SECTION Coriaceae SUBSECTION Coriaceae Rchb.f 1874
Photo by Wilfried Löderbusch
TYPE Drawing by Carl Luer
and 
Common Name or Meaning The Foul-Smelling Masdevallia
Flower Size 2" [5 cm]
Found in Antioquia department of Colombia on the central cordillera in cloud forests at elevations of 1850 to 2400 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool to cold growing epiphyte with erect, stout ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 loose, tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, narrowly obovate, subacute leaf that is narrowly cuneate below into the channeled petiole and blooms in the spring and fall on a stout, erect, .6" to .8" [1.5 to 2 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence that arises from low on the ramicaul with a bract near the base and a tubular floral bract and carries a single, malodorous flower.
Synonyms Byrsella foetens (Luer & R.Escobar) Luer 2006
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; *Orquideologia Vol 13 No 2 1979 photo/drawing/herbarium sheet; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; AOS Bulletin Vol 65 Vol 7 1996; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXI Systematics of Masdevallia Part 2 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 Byrsella foetens; Libro Rojo de Plantas De Colombia Vol 6 Primera Parte Saenz 2007 photo fide; Orchids Masdevallia with its segregates including Dracula Zelenko 2014 photo fide;
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