''Masdevallia'', abbreviated Masd in

horticultural Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of plant cultivation. It includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and no ...

trade, is a large

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s of the

Pleurothallidinae The Pleurothallidinae are a neotropical subtribe of plants of the orchid family (Orchidaceae) including 29 genera in more than 4000 species. Naturally occurring species of this subtribe are among the more popular orchids of horticulturalists, es ...

, a subtribe of the orchid

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

(

Orchidaceae Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...

). There are over 500

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

, grouped into several

subgenera In biology, a subgenus (plural: subgenera) is a taxonomic rank directly below genus. In the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between t ...

. The genus is named for Jose Masdevall (?-1801), a physician and botanist in the court of

Charles III of Spain it, Carlo Sebastiano di Borbone e Farnese , house = Bourbon-Anjou , father = Philip V of Spain , mother = Elisabeth Farnese , birth_date = 20 January 1716 , birth_place = Royal Alcazar of Madrid, Spain , death_d ...

Range and morphology

These plants are found from

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

to southern

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

, but mostly in the higher regions (2,500-4,000 m

ASL American Sign Language (ASL) is a natural language that serves as the predominant sign language of Deaf communities in the United States of America and most of Anglophone Canada. ASL is a complete and organized visual language that is express ...

) of the

Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...

and

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

and

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref> They may be

epiphyte An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

terrestrial Terrestrial refers to things related to land or the planet Earth. Terrestrial may also refer to: * Terrestrial animal, an animal that lives on land opposed to living in water, or sometimes an animal that lives on or near the ground, as opposed to ...

s or growing as

lithophyte Lithophytes are plants that grow in or on rocks. They can be classified as either epilithic (or epipetric) or endolithic; epilithic lithophytes grow on the surfaces of rocks, while endolithic lithophytes grow in the crevices of rocks (and are also ...

s on damp rocks. The plants are characterized by an abbreviated to elongate and creeping

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

that gives rise to stems that lack pseudobulbs. The stem bears a single, fleshy, erect to pendent, ovate to lanceolate

leaf A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, ste ...

. The flowers are triangular and occur singly or in racemose inflorescences. They are characterized by a showy calyx and reduced corolla. The

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

s are fused at the base and frequently caudate. The

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s flank the semiterete column and the tongue-shaped

lip The lips are the visible body part at the mouth of many animals, including humans. Lips are soft, movable, and serve as the opening for food intake and in the articulation of sound and speech. Human lips are a tactile sensory organ, and can be ...

is flexibly hinged to a free column foot.

Cultivation

The species are sensitive to inappropriate cultural conditions and will show signs of stress by leaf spotting or dropping. They can generally be grown in pots with sphagnum or seedling grade wood chips although a few species produce descending inflorescences and are best accommodated in baskets. In both cases the rhizome should remain at the surface of the medium in order to prevent rot. Most of these plants are from high altitude cloud forests and require very cool conditions and abundant moisture throughout the year. They cannot tolerate dryness, low humidity, or excessive temperatures and the plants are very easy to kill. They will simply drop all their leaves and suddenly collapse if allowed to dry completely or are exposed to high temperatures. Many members of this genus from very high altitude cloud forests defy cultivation. Most of the species from this genus are considered less difficult in cultivation than plants from the genus ''Dracula'', and some of them are very easy to cultivate and have a 'weedy' habit such as

Veitch's masdevallia ''Masdevallia veitchiana'', (pronounced "veech-e-anna") also known as Veitch's masdevallia or king of the masdevallias, is an orchid species of the genus ''Masdevallia''. The plant is found in the wild near Machu Picchu and nearby areas in Peru ...

, but the majority of these species are usually very difficult to maintain in cultivation unless the plants can be kept cool and moist all the time. Low humidity conditions or watering the plants with a water source which contains high levels of dissolved salts will result in the leaves yellowing and rapidly dying from the tips back to the rhizome. The plants should be provided with rain water or distilled water or a very pure water source. The medium should always remain moist as the plants do not have any significant storage structures like most orchids.

Selected species

* '' Masdevallia antonii'' * '' Masdevallia davisii'' – Davis' masdevallia, orchid of the sun, ''qoriwaqanki'' (

Quechua Quechua may refer to: *Quechua people, several indigenous ethnic groups in South America, especially in Peru *Quechuan languages, a Native South American language family spoken primarily in the Andes, derived from a common ancestral language **So ...

) * '' Masdevallia pinocchio'' * '' Masdevallia unguentum'' * '' Masdevallia veitchiana'' –

, king of the masdevallias, ''gallo-gallo'' (

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

), ''waqanki'' (Quechua)

Taxonomy

''Masdevallia'' was found to be polyphyletic and the taxonomy of the group is unresolved but the currently accepted taxonomy proceeds as follows:The Plant List(2010)

Subgenera

* Subgenus '' Amanda'' (≡'' Spilotantha'') ** Section ''Amandae'': 28+ species, e.g. ''M. amanda'', '' M. bulbophyllopsis'', ''M. melanopus'', ''M. polysticta''. Separated in ''Spilotantha''. ** Section ''Ophioglossae'': 1-2 species – '' M. ophioglossa'', ''M. ophioglossa'' ssp. ''grossa'' * Subgenus '' Cucullatia'': (≡'' Megema'')4 species – '' M. cerastes'', '' M. corniculata'', '' M. cucullata'', '' M. macrura'' * Subgenus '' Fissia'': (≡'' Fissia'') 3 species – '' M. mutica'', '' M. picturata'', '' M. pleurothalloides'' * Subgenus ''

Masdevallia ''Masdevallia'', abbreviated Masd in horticultural trade, is a large genus of flowering plants of the Pleurothallidinae, a subtribe of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). There are over 500 species, grouped into several subgenera. The genus is nam ...

'' ** Section ''Amaluzae'': (≡'' Luzama'') 6 species, e.g. '' M. amaluzae'', '' M. carmenensis'', '' M. patula'' ** Section ''Aphanes'': (≡'' Pteroon'') 3 species – '' M. aphanes'', '' M. capillaris'', '' M. scopaea'' ** Section ''Coriaceae'' : *** Subsection ''Coriaceae'': (≡'' Byrsella'') ~35 species, e.g. '' M. angulata'', '' M. caesia'', '' M. civilis'', '' M. elephanticeps'', '' M. foetens'', '' M. fractiflexa'' *** Subsection ''Durae'': (≡''

Regalia Regalia is a Latin plurale tantum word that has different definitions. In one rare definition, it refers to the exclusive privileges of a sovereign. The word originally referred to the elaborate formal dress and dress accessories of a sovereign ...

'') 4 species – '' M. ayabacana'', '' M. dura'', '' M. panguiensis'', '' M. utriculata'' ** Section ''Ligiae'': Monotypic – '' M. ligiae'' ** Section ''Masdevallia'': *** Subsection ''Caudatae'': ~28 species, e.g. '' M. bottae'', '' M. caudata'', '' M. decumana'', '' M. lychniphora'', '' M. triangularis'', '' M. xanthina'' *** Subsection ''Coccineae'': 12 species, e.g. '' M. amabilis'', '' M. barlaeana'', '' M. coccinea'', '' M. ignea'', '' M. veitchiana'' *** Subsection ''Masdevallia'': ~58 species, e.g. '' M. agaster'', '' M. calocodon'', '' M. mejiana'', '' M. pumila'', '' M. uniflora'' *** Subsection ''Oscillantes'': ~11 species, e.g. '' M. andreettana'', '' M. wageneriana'' (including ''M. pteroglossa'') *** Subsection ''Saltatrices'': 14 species, e.g. '' M. angulifera'', '' M. constricta'', '' M. limax'', '' M. saltatrix'', '' M. urosalpinx'', '' M. ventricularia'' *** Subsection ''Tubulosae'': 7 species, e.g. '' M. bangii'', '' M. irapana'', '' M. tubulosa'' ** Section ''Mentosae'': Monotypic – '' M. mentosa'' ** Section ''Minutae'': ~21 species, e.g. '' M. floribunda'', '' M. herradurae'', '' M. minuta'', '' M. nicaraguae'', '' M. wendlandiana'' ** Section ''Racemosae'': (≡'' Spectaculum'') Monotypic – '' M. racemosa'' ** Section ''Reichenbachianae'': *** Subsection ''Dentatae'' : (≡'' Petalodon'') 2 species – '' M. collina'', '' M. macrogenia'' *** Subsection ''Reichenbachianae'': (≡'' Reichantha'') ~11 species, e.g. '' M. rolfeana'', '' M. schroderiana'', '' M. striatella'' * Subgenus '' Meleagris'': (≡'' Rodrigoa'') 7 species, e.g. '' M. anisomorpha'', '' M. heteroptera'', '' M. meleagris'' * Subgenus '' Nidifica'': (≡'' Buccella'') 4-5 species: e.g. '' M. dynastes'', '' M. nidifica'' (including ''M. ventricosa'') * Subgenus ''

Polyantha Garden roses are predominantly Hybrid (biology), hybrid roses that are grown as ornamental plants in private or public gardens. They are one of the most popular and widely cultivated groups of flowering plants, especially in temperate climates. A ...

'' (≡'' Alaticaulia'') ** Section ''Alaticaules'': 97 species, e.g. '' M. bicolor'', '' M. infracta'', '' M. scobina'', '' M. stenorrhynchos'', '' M. tovarensis'', '' M. vargasii'', '' M. weberbaueri'' ** Section ''Polyanthae'': 7 species, e.g. '' M. discoidea'', '' M. lata'', '' M. polyantha'', '' M. schlimii'' * Subgenus '' Scabripes'' (≡'' Portilla'') * Subgenus '' Volvula'' (≡'' Streptoura'') Image:Masdevallia civilis.jpg, ''Masdevallia (Masdevallia)'' sect. ''Coriaceae'' subsect. ''Coriaceae'':
'' Masdevallia civilis'' Image:Masdevallia triangularis.jpg, ''Masdevallia (Masdevallia)'' sect. ''Masdevallia'' subsect. ''Caudatae'':
'' Masdevallia triangularis'' Image:Masdevallia pteroglossa.jpg, ''Masdevallia (Masdevallia)'' sect. ''Masdevallia'' subsect. ''Oscillantes'':
'' Masdevallia wageneriana'' var. ''pteroglossa'' Image:Masdevallia angulifera Orchi 01.jpg, ''Masdevallia (Masdevallia)'' sect. ''Masdevallia'' subsect. ''Saltatrices'':
'' Masdevallia angulifera'' Image:Masdevallia floribunda Orchi 03.jpg, ''Masdevallia (Masdevallia)'' sect. ''Minutae'':
'' Masdevallia floribunda'' Image:Acinopetala wendlandiana.jpg, ''Masdevallia (Masdevallia)'' sect. ''Minutae'':
'' Masdevallia wendlandiana'' Image:Masdevalliaventricosa1.jpg, ''Masdevallia (Nidifica)'':
'' Masdevallia nidifica'' Image:Masdevallia bicolor.jpg, ''Masdevallia (Polyantha)'' sect. ''Alaticaules'':
'' Masdevallia bicolor''

Footnotes

* (2005): ''Masdevallias, Gems of the Orchid World''. Timber Press. * : ''Icones Pleurothallidinarum, Systematics of ''Masdevallia (multiple volumes). Missouri Botanical Garden Press. (1984–2003) * (2001): Phylogenetic relationships in Pleurothallidinae (Orchidaceae): combined evidence from nuclear and plastid DNA sequences. ''American Journal of Botany'' 88: 2286-2308.

References

External links

* *
Image gallery

Masdevallia species and hybrids catalog with images
{{Taxonbar, from=Q132700 Epiphytic orchids Pleurothallidinae genera