Masdevallia lucernula

Masdevallia lucernula is from Peru and belongs to the Masdevallia section of the genus.  It has the  bright colors of many of the flowers in that section but the flowers do not open as widely as others in the section.  This example of the species actually opens more widely than others which are almost closed at the end of the tube.  The species name, lucernula, means "little lamp" and rather aptly describes these charming flowers.

Masdevallia lucernula

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.