Masdevallia aenigma Luer & R.Escobar 1982 Subgen. Polyantha sect. Alaticaules subsect. Alaticaules {Krzl.] Luer 1986 Photo by Patricia Harding
Photo by Marius Wasbauer
Common Name The Enigmatic Masdevallia [refers to the confusion identifing this species]
Flower Size 1 1/4" [3 cm]
Found in Boyaca, Santander and Cundinamarca states of Colombia at elevations of 2450 to 3000 meters as a small sized, cold growing epiphyte with erect slender 1to 2" tall ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 loose, tubular sheaths carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, narrowly elliptical, subacute to obtuse leaf that gradually narrows below into the petiole and blooms on a erect, triquetrous, 3 1/5 to 9 1/5" [8 to 23 cm] long, racemose, inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul carrying a bract towards the middle, tubular floral bracts and is 2 to 4 flowered with 2 open simultaneously and are 1 to 3 cm apart. The inflorescence is as long as the leaves and the sepaline tube is short, the lateral sepals are expanded into a broad, concave synsepal with slender tails about the length of the blade and the apex of the lip is acute and not verrucose..
Synonyms Alaticaulia aenigma (Luer & R.Escobar) Luer 2006
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; Native Colombian Orchids Vol 6 COS 1998; Icones Pleurothallidianrum XIX Systematics of Masdevallia Part One Luer 2000
