AboutOrchids

Masdevallias come in many magnificent forms, but few inspire more superlatives than Masdevallia coccinea. Its large flowers sit atop stems up to 2 ft. (60  cm) tall. There are numerous natural color varieties, like eye-catching red, purple, orange, yellow, white, or in this case, hot pink. This form also has a contrasting yellow throat.

This species grows at high elevations  in the Andes of Colombia and Peru. Said to grace the rainforests around Machu Picchu, it thrives with cool temps, regular water, high humidity, and constant air movement. In the past, mine has sulked on hot summer days when San Francisco has lost its air-conditioning fog layer. Fortunately, Dave was able to capture this wonderful flush of blooms on camera before temperatures warmed.

Masdevallia coccinea has been used as a hybrid parent for decades, and its characteristics appear in many modern orchid hybrids. The final photos show flower close-ups and an unopened flower bud with pink and yellow showing through. It’s no surprise that it lends some magic to the Lost City of the Incas.

Explore posts in the same categories: Cool Growers, Growing, Photos

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 4th, 2010 at 9:34 pm and is filed under Cool Growers, Growing, Photos.

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