Masdevallia hieroglyphica Rchb. f. 1882 SUBGENUS Masdevallia SECTION Masdevallia SUBSECTION Masdevallia
Photo by © Jay Pfahl
Photo by © Milan Vágner
Photo by Eric Hunt, plant grown by Hawk Hill Nursery
Photo by © Ellis Eyre
and 
Common Name The Hieroglyphic Masdevallia [refers to the markings on the sepals which resemble lettering]
Flower Size 2" [5 cm]
Found only in northeastern Colombia at elevations of 2300 to 2600 meters in cloud forests as a miniature sized, cold growing epiphyte with slender, erect ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 close, tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, petiolate, elliptical, obtuse leaf that is cunaete below into the slender petiole that blooms in the fall and winter on a slender, erect, 2 to 4 2/5" [5 to 11 cm] long, single flowered erect inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul with a bract near the base and a tubular floral bract holding the solitary flower at or below leaf height.
This species is unique in the genus by having a dark purple, fin-like callus at the base of the tail.
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orquideologia Vol 16 No 1 1983; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; Native Colombian Orchids Vol 2 COS 1991 photo fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXII Systematics of Masdevallia Part 3 Luer 2001 drawing fide; Masdevallia's in Kleur Vol 1 P M Oversteegen, Eisses & A P Sijm 2001 photo fide; Libro Rojo de Plantas De Colombia Vol 6 Primera Parte Saenz 2007 photo fide; Mille et Une Mini Orchideees Roguenant 2009 photo fide; Orquideologia Vol 28 #1 2011 photo fide; Orchids Masdevallia with its segregates including Dracula Zelenko 2014 photo fide;
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