Masdevallia plantaginea (Poepp. & Endl.) Cogn. 1896 SUBGENUS Pygmaeia SECTION Aphanes Luer 1986
Photo by © Lourens Grobler
Common Name The Plantago-Like Masdevallia
Flower Size .15" [.3 cm]
Found in Ecuador and Peru in cloud forests at elevations of 1000 to 1500 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool growing epiphyte with slender, blackish ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 ribbed sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, narrowly elliptical, subacute, gradually narrowing below into the slender, subpetiolate base leaf that blooms in the winter on a gradually elongating, very slender, to 6" [15 cm] long, suberect to reclining, loose, successively few flowered, racemose inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul.
Synonyms Humboltia plantaginea (Poepp. & Endl.) Kuntze 1891; Masdevallia capillaris Luer 1982; Pleurothallis plantaginea (Poepp. & Endl.) Lindl. 1842; Luzama plantaginea (Poepp. & Endl.) Luer 2006; *Specklinia plantaginea Poepp. & Endl. 1836
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
Nov. Gen. Sp. Pl. 1: 51 Poepp & Endl. 1836 as Specklinia plantaginea;
Edwards's Bot. Reg. 28(Misc.): 82 Lindley 1842 as Pleurothallis plantaginea;
Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 668 Kuntze 1891 as Humboltia plantaginea;
* Flora Brasilense 3(4): 336 Cogniaux 1896;
Selbyana 7: 104 Luer 1982 as M capillaris drawing fide;
A Treasure of Masdevallia Vol 21 Luer & Dalstroem 1996 drawing fide;
Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXI Part 2 Masdevallia Luer 2000 drawing fide;
Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 3 Dodson 2002 drawing fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVIII Luer 2006 as Luzama plantaginea;
Orchidaceae Masdevallia and Affiliates Dodson & Luer 2009 as Luzama plantaginea drawing fide;
Orchids Masdevallia with its segregates including Dracula Zelenko 2014 photo fide;
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