Masdevallia strobelii is small species from Ecuador in the section Saltatrices, with the typical hair-lined tubular flowers of that section. It is intensely fragrant, blooms prolifically, has brightly colored flowers and is easy to grow, everything that could be asked. Mine is grown in a plastic net pot in live sphagnum.
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.
A small species that blooms faithfully and prolifically every fall for me is Reichantha or Masdevallia striatella from Ecuador. The small, though attractive, flowers are 1.5 cm and are held on more or less upright spikes just above the foliage. The plant is 8 cm and is easy to grow. Mine is in a plastic net pot in sphagnum moss and is watered nearly every day with an occasional very light dose of fertilizer.
Masdevallia herradurae or Acinopetala herradurae is a small, floriferous species from Colombia and Ecuador. The plant is under 10 cm and the flowers are 2-3 cm. When the plant is in bloom the flowers look like a clouds of dark insects hovering around the plant. My plant is grown in a plastic net pot in live sphagnum.
Masdevallia naevia is from Ecuador and belongs to a group of Masdevallias that have rather large, spidery flowers, section Caudatae. The name "naevia" refers to the purple spot at the base of the dorsal sepal and means "birthmark." The plant is 10 cm tall and the flowers are also 10 cm held well above the foliage. This is not my favorite plant since both plant and flowers seem rather stiff and awkward to me.
Masdevallia veitchiana is sometimes called the "Queen of Masdevallias" for quite obvious reasons. The species is from Peru and is often referred to there as "Gallo-gallo" since is resembles a rooster's crest. It is a smaller species. My plant is only 15 cm tall with 11 cm flowers on fairly short spikes that hold the flowers a few inches above the plant. The darker markings on the face of the flowers are actually tiny purple hairs. The flowers itself is a brilliant orange.
This is a dwarf form of the well-known Masdevallia coccinea, but it is still the largest plant in my collection. Masdevallia coccinea is from Peru and in this case the plant is 15 cm tall (it can be twice that size) with flower spikes that reach another 15 cm above the plant. The 5 cm flowers open are dark pink and fade to paler pink. It always blooms in the spring and is grown in a 15 cm pot in sphagnum moss.
This is Masdevallia hartmanii from Ecuador (thanks for the plant, Kevin, and thanks for reminding me of the correct name). It is a tiny species, only 5-6 cm tall with flowers that are 3 cm, including the "tails". I grow it mounted and cool with high humidity.
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Masdevallia lucernula, from Peru, is a rather odd species that does not open widely and has flowers that are more or less pendant at the end of the flower spikes, though the spikes themselves are erect. It is a small species, only 10 cm tall, the spikes held just above the foliage, and the flowers 3 cm long. It requires cool to cold temperatures and my plant is grown in sphagnum moss in a plastic net pot.
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Masdevallia datura is named for the enormous Angel Trumpet flowers belonging to the genus Datura or Brugmansia. Its flowers are nowhere near the size of the Angel Trumpets but are large for the size of the plants. The plants of this Masdevallia are 12-15 cm tall, with narrow leaves and flowers, measured from tip to tip that are as large as the plant. The species is from Bolivia and is cool growing. It is not a prolific bloomer for me, but has done better since I reduced the light, cut back fertilizing to almost nothing, and let it dry out a bit more between waterings.
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