Masdevallia bicolor Poepp. & Endl. 1837 SUBGENUS Polyantha SECTION Alaticaules SUBSECTION Alaticaules {Krzl.] Luer 1986 Photo by © Jay Pfahl

Plant and Flowers in situ Ecuador Photo by © Lourens Grobler

Another Flower Photo courtesy of Dale and Deni Borders

Another Color Form Photo courtesy of Patricia Harding

Common Name The Two-Colored Masdevallia

Flower Size 3/4" wide [2 cm]

A Peruvian, Ecuadorian, Colombian, Venezuelan and Bolivian, small sized, cool to warm growing, caespitose, epiphytic species found in wet montane forests low down on tree trunks at altitudes of 400 to 2100 meters with minute ramicauls concealed by imbricate, basal, tubular sheaths with an oblanceolate leaf with the petiole channeled and the apex is slightly bilobed with a conspicuous apicule that blooms in the spring on an erect, 4" [10 cm] long, lateral, with 2 to 4 simultaneously or successive opening flowers per inflorescence that is held just below are just above the leaves and with 2 tubular, acuminate, floral bracts. The identifying characteristics of this species are the 2 flowered inflorescence, the 2 colored, long-caudate sepals, the carinate, bilobed petals and the papilolose anther and turbinate pollina.

Synonyms Alaticaulia bicolor (Poepp. & Endl.) Luer 2006; Masdevallia atropurpurea Rchb. f. 1854; Masdevallia aureo-rosea Weberb. 1911; Masdevallia auropurpurea Rchb.f & Warsc. 1854; Masdevallia biflora (Poepp. & Endl.) E. Morren 1873; Masdevallia herzogii Schltr. 1922; Masdevallia peruviana Rolfe 1906; Masdevallia subumbellata Kraenzl. 1925; Masdevallia xanthura Schltr. 1929

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Die Orchideen der Sudamerikanischen Kordillerenstaaten V Bolivia Schlechter 1922 as M herzogii; Venezuelan Orchids Vol 5 Dunsterville & Garay 1966; Venezuelan Orchids Vol 5 Dunsterville & Garay 1966 as M peruviana; Flora de Venezuela Foldats Volumen XV Part 3 1970 as M auropurpurea; Orquideologia Vol 16 No 1 1983 as M atropurpurea; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986 as Masdevallia auropurpurea; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; Icones Orchidacearum Peruviarum Plate 290 Bennett & Christenson 1995; Native Colombian Orchids Vol 6 COS 1998; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XIX Systematics of Masdevallia Part 1 Luer 2000; Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 3 COS 2002; Orchid Species of Peru Zelenko Bermudez 2009 photo fide

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