Masdevallia spilantha Königer 1985 SUBGENUS Masdevallia SECTION Coriaceae SUBSECTION Coriaceae Rchb.f 1874

Photos by © Ron Parsons

Common Name The Spotted Masdevallia

Flower Size 1.2" [3 cm]

Found in northern Peru at elevations around 3100 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cold growing epiphyte with erect, slender ramicauls enveloped by 2 to 3, loose, tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, thickly coriaceous, elliptical, subacute to obtuse, diffused with purple beneath, , cuneate below into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the fall on a slender, suberect, .6 to 1" [1.5 to 2.5 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul, with a bract at the base and a tubular floral bract and holding the flower beneath the leaves.

Synonyms Byrsella spilantha (Königer) Luer 2006

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXI Masdevallia Part 2 Luer 2000 drawing fide; Masdevallia's in Kleur Vol 1 P M Oversteegen, Eisses & A P Sijm 2001 photo fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVIII Luer 2006 as Byrsella spilantha; Orchids Masdevallia with its segregates including Dracula Zelenko 2014 photo fide;

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