Masdevallia gemmula [Luer & V.N.M.Rao] comb novo Pfahl 2014 SUBGENUS Pygmaeia SECTION Aphanes Luer 1986
Photo by © Malli Rao
TYPE Drawing by © Carl Luer and The Swiss Orchid Foundation at the Jany Renz Herbaria Website
Common Name or Meaning The Little Gem Masdevallia
Flower Size .2" [5 mm]
Found in Morona-Santiago province of Ecuador without specific locality at elevations around 1200 meters as a mini-miniature sized, warm growing, caespitose epiphyte with erect ramicauls enveloped by 1 to 2 loose, tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, minutely verrucose, elliptic, subacute to obtuse, narrowly contracted below in to the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the winter on an erect to suberect, proportionally stout, .6" [1.5 cm] long, successively single, 2 flowered inflorescence subtended by a bract near the base, arising from low on the ramicaul with a tubular, just shorter than the pedicel floral bract and holding the flower at midleaf to just above the leaf.
"Closely related to M mentosa but distinguished by a smaller habit and a peduncle shorter than the minutely verrucose leaves. Except for the smaller size, the pale rose flowers variously suffused with purple are superficially similar. The paterals are acute with a low obtuse callus and the lip is simply obtuse." Luer 2006
Synonyms *Luzama gemmula Luer & V.N.M.Rao 2006
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVIII A Reconsideration of Masdevallia Systematics of Specklinia Luer 2006 as Luzama gemmula drawing fide; * Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia 2014 drawing fide; Orchids Masdevallia with its segregates including Dracula Zelenko 2014 photo fide;
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