Masdevallia trifurcata Luer 1994 SUBGENUS Pygmaeia SECTION Aphanes Luer 2000
Photos courtesy of Eric Hunt
Common Name The Three Forked Masdevallia [refers to the three similar apices of the sepals]
Flower Size 1 1/4" [3.3 cm]
Found only in Santander State, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru at elevations of 1400 to 2400 meters in cloud forests high in tall trees as a mini-miniature sized, cool to cold growing epiphyte with erect, stout ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 loose, tubular sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, dark green, thickly coriaceous, elliptical, obtuse to subacute leaf with the base cuneate into the channeled petiole, and blooms in the spring on a suberect, stout, 1 1/4" to 3 3/4" [3 to 9.5 cm] long, single flowered inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul with a bract near the base and a tubular floral bract.
Synonyms Luzama trifurcata (Luer) Luer 2006; Masdevallia reflexa Misas 1977 non Schlechter 1923
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; A Treasure of Masdevallia Vol 22 Luer & Dalstroem 1997 watercolor/drawing fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 68 No 12 1999 drawing; Icones Pleurothallidinarum XXI Systematics of Masdevallia Part 2 Luer 2000 drawing fide; Native Ecuadorian Orchids Vol 3 Dodson 2002 photo fide; Orchid Species of Peru Zelenko Bermudez 2009 photo fide; Orchidaceae Masdevallia and Affiliates Dodson & Luer 2009 as Luzama trifurcata drawing ok;
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