Masdevallia constricta with its tubular flowers belongs to the Saltatrices group of Masdevallias and is a spectacular species with flowers that are larger than the plant. The flowers are 13 cm from tip to tip and are lined with glandular hairs. This plant has flowers that are somewhat larger than normal and has been awarded by the American Orchid Society. The species is from Ecuador.
As is evident from the photos, Masdevallia constricta has huge flowers that dwarf the plant. The flowers are 13 cm from tip to tip on a plant that is about the same size. The species is from Ecuador and belong to the Saltatrices group of Masdevallias. The species name refers to the "constricted" sepaline tube which is covered on the inside with tiny glandular hairs. This plant was awarded by the American Orchid Society several years ago.
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I don't grow many orchid hybrids but this is one of the few, a charming hybrid of Masdevallia mendozae and Madevallia Angel Frost. It is most like the Masdevallia mendozae parent with a very tubular flower, but has more erect flower spikes and a paler though brighter orange color, with the flowers slightly more open. It has a double dose of "hairy" parents, and so the flowers are lined with glandular hairs.
This is the other plant I had awarded at the last session of the Northwest Regional Judging Center. It was given a High Class Certificate for the size of the flowers which are substantially larger than any other clone that has been awarded. They are given a measurement of 13 cm in the awards description, which reads: "Four large, well-presented flowers and six buds; sepals white, sepaline tube orange color deepening toward column; petals hidden; caudae medium yellow; substance firm; texture matte." Some of the flowers have been larger, however, as much as 15 cm. The species is from Ecuador and this awarded clone is named after one of our granddaughters.
This plant, recently reclassified, is from Ecuador. Formerly classified as Pleurothallis talpinaria, it is now reclassified due to the breaking up of that massive genus, as Talpinaria bivalvis. The plant is 11-12 cm tall and quite slow growing, producing only a few new growths each year.
The flowers are 1.5 cm tall and are produced singly or in pairs throughout the year, with a flush a new flowers in the spring. The growth continue to produce flowers over a very long period of time. When awarded this spring it had had thirty-three flower and nine buds on a relatively small plant.
This plant was awarded a High Class Certificate by the American Orchid Society at the Mount Baker Orchid Society Show this spring. It has the clonal name, 'Neal,' for our handicapped son, and has a prized place among my miniature orchids.
