Masdevallia ionocharis

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Masdevallia ionocharis
Masdevallia ionocharis - Curtis' 102 (Ser. 3 no. 32) pl. 6262 (1876).jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Masdevallia
Species:
M. ionocharis
Binomial name
Masdevallia ionocharis
Rchb.f. 1875

Masdevallia ionocharis, the graceful violet-blue masdevallia, is an epiphytic orchid in the Masdevallia genus of orchids. Its name is derived from the Greek words ion meaning violet [1] and charis meaning grace. [2]

Contents

It occurs in the Andean region, from Peru to Bolivia.

Description

Masdevallia ionocharis is a medium-sized plant with paddle shaped leaves and flowers held on erect peduncles at or just above the level of the leaves, which blooms in the summer with a single 2.5 cm wide flower.

Cultivation

Masdevallia ionocharis should be grown in cool temperatures. It can be grown potted in sphagnum moss, with the potting medium being kept moist.

Discovery

Masdevallia ionocharis was found in 1875 by Walter Davis in the Andean valley of Sandia, in the province of Carabaya, Peru, at 9,000 ft (2,700 m) elevation), where he was collecting plants for James Veitch & Sons. [3]

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<i>Masdevallia</i>

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<i>Rhynchostylis</i>

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<i>Masdevallia veitchiana</i> Species of plant

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<i>Begonia veitchii</i> Species of plant

Begonia veitchii is a plant in the begonia family, Begoniaceae, which was introduced to Europe in 1866 by Richard Pearce who discovered it in the Peruvian Andes near Cusco at an elevation of from 10,000 feet (3,000 m) and 12,000 feet (3,700 m). It was named after Pearce's employers, James Veitch & Sons of Chelsea, London. It can be found today in the mountains around Machu Picchu. A later plant collector, Walter Davis, found Begonia veitchii inhabiting rocky positions by waterfalls, in company with Masdevallia veitchiana.

Richard Pearce was a British plant collector, who introduced the tuberous begonia to England, which led to the development of the hybrid begonias grown today.

<i>Masdevallia davisii</i>

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Walter Davis was an English plant collector, who collected in South America for James Veitch & Sons of Chelsea, London.

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Henry Chesterton

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<i>Odontoglossum crispum</i>

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William Lobb

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<i>Masdevallia unguentum</i>

Masdevallia unguentum was discovered in 2010 in the collection of Finca Dracula and is reported from Colombia. It is morphologically similar to Masdevallia marthae which was also discovered in cultivation without collection data but was later re-discovered in 1993 on the road to a television tower in the Department of Risaralda, Colombia Both are members of the subsection Saltatrices which is characterized by flowers with a tubular calyx.

<i>Dracula simia</i> Species of plant

Dracula simia, called also monkey orchid or the monkey-like Dracula, is an epiphytic orchid originally described in the genus Masdevallia, but later moved to the genus Dracula. The arrangement of column, petals and lip strongly resembles a monkey's face. The plant blooms at any season with several flowers on the inflorescence that open successively. Flowers are fragrant with the scent of a ripe orange.

<i>Tibouchina lepidota</i>

Tibouchina lepidota, also known as alstonville, Andean princess flower, lasiandra, or glory bush, is a medium-sized ornamental tree or a large shrub native to northwestern South America that is cultivated for its masses of purple flowers from autumn right through to winter.

References

  1. The American Violet Society – Violet Traditions
  2. Greek Lexicon – Charis
  3. James Herbert Veitch (2006). Hortus Veitchii (reprint ed.). Caradoc Doy. p. 180. ISBN   0-9553515-0-2.