Masdevallia molossus Rchb.f. 1877 SUBGENUS Nidificia Luer 2000
Photo by © Sebastian Moreno
Photo by Patricia Harding.
Photo by Sebastian Viera © and His Flicker Orchid Photo website
Common Name The Molossus Masdevallia [a genus of bats refering to the gaping appearance of the flower]
Flower Size .4" [1 cm]
Found in Antioquia and Valle de Cauca departments of Colombia in forests near watercourses at elevations of 1600 to 2100 meters as a miniature sized, cool to cold growing epiphyte with slender, suberect ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 loose, tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect to suberect, coriaceous, narrowly elliptical, subacute to obtuse leaf that gradually narrows into the petiolate base and blooms in the fall through spring on a slender, 1 3/4" [4.2 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul with a thin sheath near the base and a thin, tubular floral bract.
Synonyms Buccella molossus (Rchb.f.) Luer 2006 Masdevallia antioquiensis F.Lehm. & Kraenzl. 1899; Masdevallia schmidtchenii Kraenzl. 1921
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; Native Colombian Orchids Vol 2 COS 1991 photo fide; Masdevallia's in Kleur Vol 1 P M Oversteegen, Eisses & A P Sijm 2001 photo fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXV Systematics of Masdevallia Part Five Luer 2003 drawing fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVIII Luer 2006 as Buccella molossus; Libro Rojo de Plantas De Colombia Vol 6 Primera Parte Saenz 2007; Orchids Masdevallia with its segregates including Dracula Zelenko 2014 photo fide; Orquideas de Farallones de Cali Galindo-Tarazona, Haelterman, Zuluaga Trochez and Sebastian Moreno 2020 photo fide
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