Masdevallia velifera Rchb.f 1874 SUBGENUS Masdevallia SECTION Coriaceae SUBSECTION Coriaceae Rchb.f 1874
Photos by Lourens Grobler ©
LATE 
Common Name The Veiled Masdevallia
Flower Size to 2 1/2 to 3" [6.5 to 7.5 cm]
Found in Antioquia department of Colombia in cloud forests at elevations around 2130 meters as a small sized cold growing epiphytic species with stout, erect, purple-black ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 loose, tubular sheaths carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, dark green, elliptical-oblong, subacute to obtuse leaf that is narrowly cuneate below into the blackish petiole blooming in the late fall and early winter with a stout, erect, short to 4" [10 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence arising from near the base of the ramicaul with a bract near the base and a inflated, tubular floral bract holding the large solitary, malodorous flower below the leaves.
Synonyms Byrsella velifera (Rchb.f.) Luer 2006
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Die Orchideen Schlechter 1915; Orquideologia Vol 12 No 2/3 1977/8 drawing; Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965; Orquideologia Vol 12 No 2/3 1977/8 drawing fide; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; Native Colombian Orchids Vol 2 COS 1991 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 62 No 5 1993 photo good; AOS Bulletin Vol 65 Vol 7 1996; AOS Bulletin Vol 67 No 7 1998 photo fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXI Systematics of Masdevallia Part 2 Luer 2000 drawing ok; Masdevallia's in Kleur Vol 1 P M Oversteegen, Eisses & A P Sijm 2001 photo fide; Orquideologia Vol. 23 No 1 2004 photo fide; Orquideologia Vol 24 #2 2006 photo fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum Vol XXVIII Luer 2006 as Byrsella velifera; 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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