Masdevallia mariposa A.Doucette, J.Portilla & G.Merino 2015 SUBGENUS Masdevallia SECTION Masdevallia SUBSECTION Caudatae Veitch 1889

Comparison photo of similar orchid flowers

Comparison photo of floral parts

Photos by Alfonso Doucette

Common Name The Butterfly Like Masdevallia

Flower Size 1.2" [3 cm]

Found in Zamora-Chinchipe province of Ecuador at elevations around 2000 meters as a mini-miniature sized, cool to cold growing caespitose epiphyte with semi-terete, sulcate adaxially, keeled abaxially ramicauls enveloped by 3 sheaths and carrying a single, apical, erect, coriaceous, elliptic, acute, gradually narrowing below into the petiolate base leaf that blooms in the winter on an erect to horizontal, peduncle slender, 1.6 to 2.4" [4 to 6 cm] long, enveloped by 2 tubular bracts, single flowered inflorescence. M xanthina but differs in the more deeply connate sepals and the lip with 3 calli instead of a single apical callus." Doucette 2015

Synonyms

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; *AOS Bulletin Vol 84 #8 2015 photo fide;

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------