Masdevallia sceptrum Rchb. f. 1854 SUBGENUS Polyantha SECTION Alaticaules SUBSECTION Alaticaules [Krzl.] Luer 1986 Photo by Andreas Philipp

Another Flower Photo by Jay Pfahl

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Common Name The Sceptre-Like Masdevallia [Refers to the elegant inflorescence]

Flower Size 1 1/8" [3 cm]

Found in Venezuela and Boyaca, Santander and Norte de Santander Colombia in cloud forests on tall trees often in full sun as a miniature to small sized, cool to cold growing caespitose epiphyte at elevations of 2400 to 3900 meters with stout, erect ramicauls enveloped by 2 to 3 loose, tubular sheaths carrying an erect, single, apical, thickly coriaceous, elliptical-obovate, subacute to obtuse leaf that is narrowly cuneate into the basal petiole blooming in the summer on a stout, erect, 6 to 12" [15 to 30 cm] long, loose to congested, simultaneously few to several [4 to 5] flowered, triquetrous, racemose inflorescence arising from the base of the ramicaul with a basal bract and a thin tubular floral bract that holds the flowers at or above the leaf height. This species is found in conjunction with M buccinator and can be confused with M schlimii which has a terete inflorescence, basal processes on the petals, a longer hypochile and no prominent keel on the lip.

Synonyms Alaticaulia sceptrum (Rchb.f.) Luer 2006; Masdevallia schlimii var. sceptrum [Rchb.f]Woolw. 1896; Masdevallia urostachya Rchb.f 1882

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Bonplandia Rchb.f 1854; Venezuelan Orchids Illustrated Vol 6 Dunsterville & Garay 1976 drawing ok; Orchids of Venezuela An Illustrated Field Guide Vol 2 Dunsterville & Garay 1979 drawing ok; Orquideologia Vol 16 No 1 1983; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XIX Systematics of Masdevallia Part 1 Luer 2000 drawing fide; Orchids of Venezuela [An illustrated field guide] Vol. 2 Ramiro and Carnevali 2000 drawing ok; Orquideas Nativas del Tachira Cesar Fernandez 2003 photo fide; Orquideologia Vol. 23 No 1 2004 photo; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXV Systematics of Masdevallia Part Five 2005; Libro Rojo de Plantas De Colombia Vol 6 Primera Parte Saenz 2007

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