Alaticaulia bennettii

Alatacaulia bennettii or Masdevallia bennettii is a species belonging to the group of Masdevallias that have triangular flower spikes (in cross section) and that bloom successively with one or two flowers at a time.  The species is from Peru and is 12-15 cm tall with flower spikes somewhat longer than the leaves and large 6-8 cm flowers.  It is warm-growing but seems very temperature tolerant since I grow it cool to intermediate.  It is in a pot in live sphagnum and seems to like a lot of water.

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Alaticaulia weberbaueri

 Alaticaulia weberbaueri comes from Ecuador and Peru and is a small size species, 18cm tall, with 2 cm flowers that open in succession, several to a flower spike.  The triangular (in cross-section) inflorescence is one of the distinguishing features of the group of plants to which this species belongs.  Formerly known as Masdevallia weberbaueri, it is named for its discoverer.

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Alaticaulia don-quijote

Also known as Masdevallia don-quijote, this species is a real charmer, both for its name and for its unusual form. It is native to Ecuador and is named after the Man of La Mancha, for its supposed resemblance to the bowed legs of a horseman (lateral sepals) and a lance (dorsal sepal). The plant is larger, as Masdevallias go, about 15 cm tall, with 35 cm flower spikes that bloom successively, and flowers that are about 11 cm tall. It is a very vigorous grower and bloomer.

 

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Alaticaulia impostor

This unusual Masdevallia, now reclassifed as Alaticaulia, comes from Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador. The plant is about 15 cm tall and the large flowers are carried on 40 cm long flower spikes. The flowers are 6-8 cm in size and each spike blooms successively. The name impostor means "deceiver," a reference to the fact that the species was misidentified for many years.

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