Masdevallia ophioglossa Rchb. f. 1878 SUBGENUS Nidificia Luer 2000

Photo courtesy of Patricia Harding

Plant and flowers Photo courtesy of Eric Hunt, plant grown by Hanging Gardens

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Common Name The Snake Tongued Masdevallia

An Ecuadorian species from 1700 to 2200 meters as a miniature sized, cool growing lithophyte and terrestrial orchid with slender ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 thin, tubular sheaths carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, narrowly obovate, subacute to obtuse leaf that gradually narrows below into the petiole that blooms on a slender, erect, a solitary flowered inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul with a thin floral bract held well above the leaves.

Synonyms Buccella ophioglossa (Rchb.f.) Luer 2006 ; Masdevallia grossa Luer 1980; Masdevallia ophioglossa subps. grossa (Luer) Luer 1986

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; *Otia Botanica Hamburgensia Rchb.f 1878; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 3 Dodson 2002 photo fide; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXV Systematics of Masdevallia Part Five 2005 drwawing fide; Orchidaceae Masdevallia and Affiliates Dodson & Luer 2009 as Buccella opioglossa drawing ok

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