Masdevallia nivea (Luer & R.Escobar) Luer & R.Escobar 1989 SUBGENUS Masdevallia SECTION Masdevallia SUBSECTION Caudatae Veitch 1889
Photo courtesy of Lisa Thoerle
TYPE Drawing by Carl Luer
Common Name The White Masdevallia
Flower Size 1" [2.5 cm]
Found in northeastern Colombia in the department of Santander in cloud forests at elevations of 2800 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cold growing epiphyte with slender, erect, blackish ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, elliptical, obtuse leaf that is cuneate below into a petiole and blooms in the fall on an erect, slender, 1 3/5 to 1 3/4" [4 to 4.5 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul and having a bract near the base and a tubular floral bract.
Synonyms Masdevallia purpurella subsp. nivea Luer & R. Escobar 1988
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Masdevallia's in Kleur Vol 1 P M Oversteegen, Eisses & A P Sijm 2001 as M purpurella ssp nivea photo fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXIII Systematics of Masdevallia Part 4 Luer 2002 drawing fide; Libro Rojo de Plantas De Colombia Vol 6 Primera Parte Saenz 2007 photo fide; Orchids Masdevallia with its segregates including Dracula Zelenko 2014 photo fide;
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