Masdevallia purpurella Luer & R. Escobar 1892 SUBGENUS Masdevallia SECTION Masdevallia SUBSECTION Caudatae Veitch 1889
Photo courtesy of Andreas Philipp
Photo courtesy of Lourens Grobler
TYPE Drawing by Carl Luer
Common Name The Purple Masdevallia
Flower Size 1 1/5" [3 cm]
Found in central Colombia at elevations of 2200 to 2600 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cold growing epiphyte with slender, erect, blackish ramicauls enveloped basallly by 2 to 3 tubular sheaths carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, elliptic, obtuse leaf that is cuneate below into the slender petiole that blooms at various times of the year on a slender, suberect, 1.6 to 1.8” [4 to 4.5 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul with a bract near the base and a tubular floral bract carrying the single flower at leaf height.
Distinguished from M caudata and relatives by the smaller size and non-striped purple flowers, deeply connate speals and flowers on a shorter inflorescence. Pot this one in a well draining fiberous medium and grown in warm to cool temperatures, moderate light and good ventilation.
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; *Orquideologia Vol 15 #2-3 1982 drawing/photo fide; Orquideologia Vol 16 No 1 1983; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; Native Colombian Orchids Vol 6 COS 1998 photo fide; Masdevallia's in Kleur Vol 1 P M Oversteegen, Eisses & A P Sijm 2001 photo fide; Masdevallia's in Kleur Vol 1 P M Oversteegen, Eisses & A P Sijm 2001 as M purpurella ssp nivea photo = M nivea; 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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