Masdevallia kuhniorum Luer 1978 SUBGENUS Polyantha SECTION Alaticaules SUBSECTION Alaticaules [Krzl.] Luer 1986
Photo by © Pieter C. Brouwer and his Nature Photo Website
Photo courtesy of CJ Maciejeski
TYPE Drawing by Carl Luer
Common Name The Kuhn's Masdevallia [Original Cultivators of This Species]
Flower Size 3/4" [2 cm]
Found in Peru in tropical rainforest at elevations of 1000 to 1100 meters as a miniature sized, caespitose, cool growing epiphyte , with a short ramicaul enveloped basally by 2 to 3 loose, tubular sheaths and an oblanceolate, long attenuate, tridenticulate, coriaceous, dark green leaf that blooms at almost any time, as new leaves mature, on an erect, arising from low on the ramicaul with a basal bract, 4" [10 cm]long, racemose successively single, to 5 flowered inflorescence with imbricating, tubular, shorter than the pedicel floral bracts and carrying flowers held at or just above the leaves.
The upper part of the inflorescence has a triangular crossection and becomes thinner and rounder as you go to the base. Also distinguishing this species from others is a 3-lobulate labellum with the apex verrucose and a thick elongate callus on the petals.
Synonyms Alaticaulia kuhniorum (Luer) Luer 2006
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; Icones Orchidacearum Peruviarum Plate 086 Bennett & Christenson 1993 drawing fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XIX Systematics of Masdevallia Part 1 Luer 2000 drawing fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVIII Luer 2006 as Alaticaulia kuhniorum; Orchid Species of Peru Zelenko Bermudez 2009 photo fide; Orchidaceae Masdevallia and Affiliates Dodson & Luer 2009 as Alaticaulia kuhniorum drawing fide; Orchids Masdevallia with its segregates including Dracula Zelenko 2014 photo good; AOS Bulletin Vol 89 #2 2020 photo fide
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