Masdevallia ventricularia Rchb.f 1878 SUBGENUS Masdevallia SECTION Masdevallia SUBSECTION Saltatrices [Rchb.f] Luer 1986

Front View of Flower

Photos by © Jay Pfahl

Head On View

Flower Closeup

Photos by © Eric Hunt

Plant and Flower in situ - Ecuador

Photo by © Lourens Grobler

and EARLY

Common Name The Small-Bellied Masdevallia

Flower Size to 4 1/2" [8 cm]

Found in Colombia and Ecuador in cloud forests on tree trunks close to the ground at elevations of 1700 to 2500 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool to cold growing epiphyte with slender erect ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 loose tubular sheaths carrying a single, apical, oblong-lanceolate, petiolate, sub-erect to spreading, coriaceous leaf gradually narrowing below into the petiole that blooms in spring and early summer on a terete, slender, erect to suberect, to 4" [10cm] long inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul with a bract above the base and a membraneous, apiculate floral bract bract that is holds the solitary, tubular flower among the leaves. Either potted or mounted suit this species if it is given cold to cool temperatures, constant moisture, high humidity and heavy shade.

Synonyms Masdevallia ventricularia var brevicaudata Kraenzl. 1925

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; *Otia Botanica Hamburgensia Rchb.f 1878; Die Orchideen Schlechter 1915; Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; AOS Bulletin Vol 56 No 11 1987 photo fide; Native Colombian Orchids Vol 2 COS 1991 photo fide; The Manual Of Cultivated Orchid Species Bechtel, Cribb & Launert 1992 photo fide; Orchid Digest Vol 58 No 4 1994 photo fide; Masdevallia's in Kleur Vol 1 P M Oversteegen, Eisses & A P Sijm 2001 photo fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXIII Systematics of Masdevallia Part 4 Luer 2002 drawing fide; Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 3 Dodson 2002 photo fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXV Systematics of Masdevallia Part Five Luer 2003 drawing fide; Libro Rojo de Plantas De Colombia Vol 6 Primera Parte Saenz 2007 photo fide; Orchidaceae Masdevallia and Affiliates Dodson & Luer 2009 drawing fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 82 #3 2013 photo fide; Orchids Masdevallia with its segregates including Dracula Zelenko 2014 photo fide; Orchid Digest Vol 79 #1 2015 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 86 # 1 2017 photo fide;

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