Masdevallia
Encyclopedia
Masdevallia, abbreviated Masd in horticultural trade, is a large genus
of flowering plant
s of the Pleurothallidinae
, a subtribe of the orchid family
(Orchidaceae
). There are over 500 species
, grouped into several subgenera. The genus is named for Jose Masdeval, a physician and botanist in the court of Charles III of Spain
.
to southern Brazil
, but mostly in the higher regions (2,500-4,000 m ASL
) of the Andes
of Ecuador
and Colombia
, Peru
and Bolivia
. They may be epiphyte
s, terrestrial
s or growing as lithophyte
s on damp rocks.
The plant grows from a short, creeping rhizome
from which appear minute pseudobulb
s; some are hemicryptophytes. Each pseudobulb carries one fleshy, smooth leaf
held in tufts. The green leaves are ovate or lanceolate.
They bloom usually during summer. The triangular flower
s grow on short pedicel
s and are about 6 cm wide. On each pedicel there is ordinarily just one flower, but sometimes there may be several (e.g. in Masdevallia polysticta). The petal
s and the tongue-shaped or shell-shaped lip
are small and are partly hidden deep inside the flower. The three large sepal
s are fused along their edges and commonly have long tails. The sepals are often very brightly colored and/or boldly marked, large and showy, while the rest of the flower is inconspicuous.
and the former subgenus
Teagueia
have been split off in the process. Not all authors accept this decision at present, and the final consensus remains to be established on this matter.
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There is a lot of variation between the orchids of the genus Masdevallia. This had led to a further division into subgenera, section
s and subsections.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of flowering plant
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s of the Pleurothallidinae
Pleurothallidinae
The Pleurothallidinae are a neotropical subtribe of plants of the orchid family including 29 genera in more than 4000 species.Naturally occurring species of this subtribe are among the more popular orchids of horticulturalists, especially the genera Dracula, Dryadella, Masdevallia and...
, a subtribe of the orchid family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
(Orchidaceae
Orchidaceae
The Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
). There are over 500 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, grouped into several subgenera. The genus is named for Jose Masdeval, a physician and botanist in the court of Charles III of Spain
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
.
Range, ecology and description
These plants are found from MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to southern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, but mostly in the higher regions (2,500-4,000 m ASL
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
) of the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
of Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
and Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
. They may be epiphyte
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
s, terrestrial
Terrestrial plant
A terrestrial plant is one that grows on land. Other types of plants are aquatic , epiphytic , lithophytes and aerial ....
s or growing as lithophyte
Lithophyte
Lithophytes are a type of plant that grows in or on rocks. Lithophytes feed off moss, nutrients in rain water, litter, and even their own dead tissue....
s on damp rocks.
The plant grows from a short, creeping rhizome
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
from which appear minute pseudobulb
Pseudobulb
The pseudobulb is a storage organ derived from the part of a stem between two leaf nodes.It applies to the orchid family , specifically certain groups of epiphytic orchids, and may be single or composed of several internodes with evergreen or deciduous leaves along its length.In some species, it is...
s; some are hemicryptophytes. Each pseudobulb carries one fleshy, smooth leaf
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
held in tufts. The green leaves are ovate or lanceolate.
They bloom usually during summer. The triangular flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s grow on short pedicel
Pedicel (botany)
A pedicel is a stem that attaches single flowers to the main stem of the inflorescence. It is the branches or stalks that hold each flower in an inflorescence that contains more than one flower....
s and are about 6 cm wide. On each pedicel there is ordinarily just one flower, but sometimes there may be several (e.g. in Masdevallia polysticta). The petal
Petal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s and the tongue-shaped or shell-shaped lip
Labellum
Labellum is the Latin diminutive of labium, meaning lip. These are anatomical terms used descriptively in biology, for example in Entomology and botany.-Botany:...
are small and are partly hidden deep inside the flower. The three large sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s are fused along their edges and commonly have long tails. The sepals are often very brightly colored and/or boldly marked, large and showy, while the rest of the flower is inconspicuous.
Selected species
- Masdevallia davisiiMasdevallia davisiiMasdevallia davisii is a species of the Masdevallia genus of orchids. It is also known as the Orchid of the Sun and was known to the Incas as qoriwaqanki – due to its similarity in form to the red Masdevallia veitchiana, known as waqanki.It was named after Walter Davis who discovered it near...
– Davis' Masdevallia, Orchid of the Sun, qoriwaqanki (QuechuaQuechua languagesQuechua is a Native South American language family and dialect cluster spoken primarily in the Andes of South America, derived from an original common ancestor language, Proto-Quechua. It is the most widely spoken language family of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, with a total of probably...
) - Masdevallia ionocharisMasdevallia ionocharisMasdevallia ionocharis is an epiphytic orchid in the Masdevallia genus of orchids. Its name is derived from the Greek words ion meaning violet and charis meaning grace....
– Graceful Violet-blue Masdevallia - Masdevallia veitchianaMasdevallia veitchianaMasdevallia veitchiana, also known as Veitch's Masdevallia or King of the Masdevallias, is a species of the Masdevallia genus of orchids....
– Veitch's Masdevallia, King of the Masdevallias, gallo-gallo (Spanish), waqanki (Quechua)
Taxonomy and systematics
While several genera have been included in Masdevallia in the attempt to make it a natural monophyletic group, Jostia, SpilotanthaSpilotantha
Spilotantha is a genus of orchids containing approximately 35 species originating from neotropical locales. Most members of this genus used to reside in the Masdevallia subgenus Amanda, section Amandae...
and the former subgenus
Subgenus
In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...
Teagueia
Teagueia
Teagueia is a genus of 6 species of orchid, established by Carl Luer. They were formerly included in Masdevallia' for the most part. Three species are endemic to Colombia and three are endemic to Ecuador. They are found at high altitudes in the Andes....
have been split off in the process. Not all authors accept this decision at present, and the final consensus remains to be established on this matter.
Subgenera
Section (botany)
In botany, a section is a taxonomic rank below the genus, but above the species. The subgenus, if present, is higher than the section, and the rank of series, if present, is below the section. Sections are typically used to help organise very large genera, which may have hundreds of species...
s and subsections.
- Subgenus Amanda (the name is not valid if SpilotanthaSpilotanthaSpilotantha is a genus of orchids containing approximately 35 species originating from neotropical locales. Most members of this genus used to reside in the Masdevallia subgenus Amanda, section Amandae...
is accepted)- Section Amandae: 28+ species, e.g. M. amanda, M. bulbophyllopsisMasdevallia bulbophyllopsisMasdevallia bulbophyllopsis is a species of orchid endemic to southwestern Ecuador....
, M. melanopus, M. polysticta. Separated in Spilotantha. - Section Ophioglossae: 1-2 species – M. ophioglossa, M. ophioglossa ssp. grossa
- Section Amandae: 28+ species, e.g. M. amanda, M. bulbophyllopsis
- Subgenus Cucullatia: 4 species – M. cerastes, M. corniculata, M. cucullata, M. macrura
- Subgenus Fissia: 3 species – M. mutica, M. picturata, M. pleurothalloides
- Subgenus Masdevallia
- Section Amaluzae: 6 species, e.g. M. amaluzae, M. carmenensis, M. patula
- Section Aphanes: 3 species – M. aphanes, M. capillaris, M. scopaea
- Section Caudivolvulae: MonotypicMonotypicIn biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
– M. caudivolvula - Section Coriaceae :
- Subsection Coriaceae: ~35 species, e.g. M. angulata, M. caesia, M. civilisMasdevallia civilisMasdevallia civilis is a species of orchid occurring from Venezuela to Peru....
, M. elephanticepsMasdevallia elephanticepsMasdevallia elephanticeps is a species of orchid occurring at high elevations in the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia....
, M. foetens, M. fractiflexaMasdevallia fractiflexaMasdevallia fractiflexa is a species of orchid endemic to southeastern Ecuador.... - Subsection Durae: 4 species – M. ayabacana, M. dura, M. panguiensis, M. utriculata
- Subsection Coriaceae: ~35 species, e.g. M. angulata, M. caesia, M. civilis
- Section Ligiae: Monotypic – M. ligiae
- Section Masdevallia:
- Subsection Caudatae: ~28 species, e.g. M. bottae, M. caudataMasdevallia caudataMasdevallia caudata is a species of orchid endemic to easternmost Colombia and adjacent Venezuela....
, M. decumana, M. lychniphora, M. triangularisMasdevallia triangularisMasdevallia triangularis is a species of orchid found from Venezuela into Ecuador....
, M. xanthina - Subsection Coccineae: 12 species, e.g. M. amabilis, M. barlaeanaMasdevallia barlaeanaMasdevallia barlaeana is a species of orchid endemic to Peru....
, M. coccineaMasdevallia coccineaMasdevallia civilis is a species of orchid occurring at high altitudes in the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia.-Synonyms:*Masdevallia coccinea var. conchiflora H.J. Veitch*Masdevallia coccinea var. harryana H.J. Veitch...
, M. igneaMasdevallia igneaMasdevallia ignea is a species of orchid endemic to Colombia....
, M. veitchianaMasdevallia veitchianaMasdevallia veitchiana, also known as Veitch's Masdevallia or King of the Masdevallias, is a species of the Masdevallia genus of orchids.... - Subsection Masdevallia: ~58 species, e.g. M. agasterMasdevallia agasterMasdevallia agaster is a species of orchid endemic to southern Ecuador....
, M. calocodon, M. mejianaMasdevallia mejianaMasdevallia mejiana is a species of orchid endemic to Colombia....
, M. pumilaMasdevallia pumilaMasdevallia pumila is a species of orchid found from southern Colombia into central Bolivia.-External links:*...
, M. unifloraMasdevallia unifloraMasdevallia uniflora is a species of orchid endemic to Peru . It is the type species of the genus Masdevallia.... - Subsection Oscillantes: ~11 species, e.g. M. andreettana, M. wageneriana (including M. pteroglossa)
- Subsection Saltatrices: 14 species, e.g. M. anguliferaMasdevallia anguliferaMasdevallia angulifera is a species of orchid endemic to the Western Cordillera and the Central Cordillera of Colombia in northern South America. ....
, M. constrictaMasdevallia constrictaMasdevallia constricta is a species of orchid endemic to Peru....
, M. limax, M. saltatrix, M. urosalpinx, M. ventriculariaMasdevallia ventriculariaMasdevallia ventricularia is a species of orchid occurring from Colombia to northwestern Ecuador.... - Subsection Tubulosae: 7 species, e.g. M. bangii, M. irapana, M. tubulosa
- Subsection Caudatae: ~28 species, e.g. M. bottae, M. caudata
- Section Mentosae: Monotypic – M. mentosa
- Section Minutae: ~21 species, e.g. M. floribundaMasdevallia floribundaMasdevallia floribunda is a species of orchid found from southern Mexico to Honduras.-References:...
, M. herraduraeMasdevallia herraduraeMasdevallia herradurae is a species of orchid native to the Western Cordillera and Central Cordillera of Colombia....
, M. minuta, M. nicaraguae, M. wendlandianaMasdevallia wendlandianaMasdevallia wendlandiana is a species of orchid native to the tropical South America.... - Section Racemosae: Monotypic – M. racemosa
- Section Reichenbachianae:
- Subsection Dentatae : 2 species – M. collina, M. macrogenia
- Subsection Reichenbachianae: ~11 species, e.g. M. rolfeanaMasdevallia rolfeanaMasdevallia rolfeana is a species of orchid endemic to Costa Rica....
, M. schroderiana, M. striatellaMasdevallia striatellaMasdevallia striatella is a species of orchid that occurs from Costa Rica to western Panama....
- Subgenus Meleagris: 7 species, e.g. M. anisomorpha, M. heteroptera, M. meleagrisMasdevallia meleagrisMasdevallia meleagris is a species of orchid endemic to Colombia. It is highly poisonous....
- Subgenus Nidifica: 4-5 species: e.g. M. dynastes, M. nidificaMasdevallia nidificaMasdevallia nidifica is a species of orchid found from Central America into northern Peru....
(including M. ventricosa) - Subgenus Pelecaniceps: Monotypic – M. pelecaniceps
- Subgenus Polyantha
- Section Alaticaules: 97 species, e.g. M. bicolorMasdevallia bicolorMasdevallia bicolor is a species of orchid found from western South America to northwestern Venezuela....
, M. infracta, M. scobina, M. stenorrhynchos, M. tovarensisMasdevallia tovarensisMasdevallia tovarensis is a species of orchid endemic to northern Venezuela....
, M. vargasiiMasdevallia vargasiiMasdevallia vargasii is a species of orchid found from southern Colombia into central Bolivia and Guyana....
, M. weberbaueriMasdevallia weberbaueriMasdevallia weberbaueri is a species of orchid found from southern Ecuador into northern Peru.... - Section Polyanthae: 7 species, e.g. M. discoidea, M. lata, M. polyantha, M. schlimii
- Section Alaticaules: 97 species, e.g. M. bicolor
- Subgenus Pygmaeia: 5 species, e.g. M. anachaeta, M. erinacea, M. pygmaea
- Subgenus Scabripes
- Subgenus Volvula