Masdevallia peristeria Rchb.f. 1874 SUBGENUS Masdevallia SECTION Coriaceae SUBSECTION Coriaceae Rchb.f 1874
Photos by © Jay Pfahl
Photo courtesy of Lourens Grobler ©
Photo by Milan Vagner ©
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Common Name The Dove-Like Masdevallia
Flower Size 4 to 5" [10 to 12.5 cm]
Found in Colombia and Ecuador in open woodland and along water runs, near to the ground at elevations of 1500 to 2500 meters as a small sized, cool to cold growing epiphyte or terrestrial with stout, erect ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 loose, tubular sheaths carrying a single, apical, linear-lanceolate, suberect, thick, fleshy, obscurly petiolate leaf that gradually narrows below into an indistinct petiole and blooms in the spring and summer on a short to 3 1/2" [9 cm] long, terete, pale green spotted with crimson inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul, with a loose floral bract holding the single, malodorous flower at mid-leaf.
The flower is characterized by having a dove shape visible in the column and petals.
Synonyms Byrsella peristeria (Rchb.f.) Luer 2006; Masdevallia ellipes Rchb.f 1877; Masdevallia haematisticta chb.f 1866; Masdevallia peristeria subsp. haematosticta (Rchb. f.) Luer 1988
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Die Orchideen Schlechter 1915; Atlas des Orchidees Cultivees Constantin 1920 drawing fide; Beitrage Zur Orchideenkunde Von Colombia 27:152 Schlechter 1924; AOS Bulletin Vol 31 No 4 1962 photo fide; Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; The Manual Of Cultivated Orchid Species Bechtel, Cribb & Launert 1992; Native Colombian Orchids Vol 6 COS 1998 photo fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXI Systematics of Masdevallia Part 2 Luer 2000 drawing fide; Masdevallia's in Kleur Vol 1 P M Oversteegen, Eisses & A P Sijm 2001 as M peristeria ssp haematostcta photo fide; Masdevallia's in Kleur Vol 1 P M Oversteegen, Eisses & A P Sijm 2001 photo fide; Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 3 Dodson 2002 photo fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVIII Luer 2006 as Byrsella peristeria; Libro Rojo de Plantas De Colombia Vol 6 Primera Parte Saenz 2007; Orchidaceae Masdevallia and Affiliates Dodson & Luer 2009 as Byrsella peristeria drawing ok; AOS Bulletin Vol 80 #9 2011 photo fide; Orchids Masdevallia with its segregates including Dracula Zelenko 2014 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 88 #9 2019 drawing fide;
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