IOSPE PHOTOS

Specimen Plant Photo courtesy of Dale and Deni Borders

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Common Name The Tovar Masdevallia [A town In Venezuela]

Flower Size about 3" [7 to 8 cm]

A cold growing, miniature sized epiphytic species endemic to Venezuela that is found at elevations of 1600 to 2400 meters, with stout, erect ramicauls enveloped by 2 to 3 loose, tubular sheaths carrying a single, apical, erect, thickly coriaceous, glossy green, elliptical, subacute to obtuse leaf that is narrowly cuneate into the stout, basal petiole from which it blooms in the fall and early winter with 2 to 4 flowers that open simultaneously on each, stout, erect, congested, to 3 1/4 to 7 1/4" [8 to 18 cm] long, racemose inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul with a basal bract and white, tubular, imbricating floral bracts holding the waxy, long-lived flowers well above the leaves. These inflorescence, after blooming, should be left alone as they will rebloom later or the following year. Even well watered conditions year round suit this miniature orchid fine as long as it has a well draining compost.

Synonyms Alaticaulia tovarensis (Rchb.f.) Luer 2006; Masdevallia candida Klotsch & Karst. 1854

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Venezuelan Orchids Illustrated Vol 1 Dunsterville & Garay 1959; AOS Bulletin Vol 31 No 4 1962 photo; Flora de Venezuela Foldats Volumen XV Part 3 1970; AOS Bulletin Vol 53 No 9 1984 photo; Systematics of Masdevallia Vol 2 Luer 1986; AOS Bulletin Vol 62 No 12 1993 photo; Icones Orchidacearum Peruviarum Plate 288 Bennett & Christenson 1995; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XIX Systematics of Masdevallia Part 1 Luer 2000; AOS Bulletin Vol 72 No 11 2003 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 73 No 3 2004; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXV Systematics of Masdevallia Part Five 2005; Orchid Digest Vol 72 No 4 2008 photo

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