Masdevallia rolfeana Kraenzl. 1891 SUBGENUS Masdevallia SECTION Reichenbachianae Woolw. 1896 Photos by © Pupulin, Used under permission of Epidendra Website CR

Another Flower Photo courtesy of Eric Hunt

Floral closeup Photo courtesy of David Morris at Clackamas Orchids

Common Name Rolfe's Masdevallia [Kew Taxomonist 1800's]

Flower Size 2 1/2" [6.75 cm]

A small sized, Costa Rican, warm to cold growing, epiphytic species occuring in windy cloud forests on tree trunks at elevations of 1400 to 2200 meters with erect stems enveloped basally by 2 to 3 tubular sheaths with a single, apical, patulate, slightly rough adaxially, petiolate leaf with the apex either emarginate or apicaulate. This species blooms in the fall, winter and spring with a 5 to 7" long inflorescence that is shorter than the leaves and has 1 to 3 successive flowers.

Synonyms Reichantha rolfeana (Kraenzl.) Luer 2006

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Lankester's Epidendra Website CR ; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; Icones Planetarum Tropicarum plate 1555 Atwood 1993; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXI Systematics of Masdevallia Part 2 Luer 2000

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