Masdevallia mezae Luer 1979 SUBGENUS Polyantha SECTION Alaticaules SUBSECTION Alaticaules [Krzl.] Luer 1986
Photo courtesy of Eric Hunt
Photo courtesy of Richard Korber
TYPE Drawing by Carl Luer
to EARLY 
Common Name Meza's Masdevallia [Peruvian collector of species]
Flower Size 5/8" [1.5 cm]
Found in Amazonas department of Peru in moderately cool, wet, montane forests at elevations around 1800 meters as a caespitose, small sized, cool growing epiphyte with erect, stout ramicauls enveloped by 2 to 3, close, tubular sheaths carrying a single, apical, oblong to narrowly lanceolate, long attenuate, petiolate, channeled, tridenticulate, coriaceous, dark green leaf subtended by 2 basal sheaths that blooms in cultivation in Lima through the winter and early spring on an erect, arising from low on the ramicaul with a basal bract, scapose, subumbellate, 6" [15 cm] long, 2 to 3 simultaneous, successively few to several flowered inflorescence with tubular, imbricating, shorter to as long as the pedicel floral bracts holding the flowers below the leaves.
The distinguishing factors of this species are the obliquely, elliptic bases of the lateral sepals not gradual or abruptly triangular, the obliquely lanceolate, acuminate petals and a central, elongate ridge on the labellum.
Synonyms Alaticaulia mezae (Luer) Luer 2006; Masdevallia rauhii Senghas & Braas 1979
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; Icones Orchidacearum Peruviarum Plate 088 Bennett & Christenson 1993 drawing ok; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XIX Systematics of Masdevallia Part 1 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 Alaticaulia mezae; Orchid Species of Peru Zelenko Bermudez 2009 photo fide; Orchid Species of Peru Zelenko Bermudez 2009 photo fide; Mille et Une Mini Orchideees Roguenant 2009 photo fide; Orchids Masdevallia with its segregates including Dracula Zelenko 2014 photo fide;
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