Masdevallia veitchiana: Difference between revisions
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==Discovery== |
==Discovery== |
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According to ''"[[James Herbert Veitch#Hortus Veitchii|Hortus Veitchii]]"'', "Masdevallia Veitchiana was discovered in the lofty Andes of Peru by [[Richard Pearce (botanist)|Pearce]] in 1866, and successfully introduced by him. A few years later it was re-discovered in the same locality by [[Walter Davis]], who states that it grows in the crevices and hollows of the rocks with but little soil, at an altitude of 11,000-13,000 ft. |
According to ''"[[James Herbert Veitch#Hortus Veitchii|Hortus Veitchii]]"'', "Masdevallia Veitchiana was discovered in the lofty Andes of Peru by [[Richard Pearce (botanist)|Pearce]] in 1866, and successfully introduced by him. A few years later it was re-discovered in the same locality by [[Walter Davis (botanist)|Walter Davis]], who states that it grows in the crevices and hollows of the rocks with but little soil, at an altitude of 11,000-13,000 ft. |
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"It is a variable plant, the flowers differing in size, colour, and in the manner in which the papillae is spread over the inner surface of the sepals. A large-flowered form, grandiflora, may be distinguished by having the upper sepal densely and uniformly covered with purple papillae, while in the lateral two this covering is confined entirely to the outer half, the inner being of the purest orange-scarlet and destitute of papillae."<ref>{{cite book | author=James Herbert Veitch| title=Hortus Veitchii| publisher=[[Caradoc Doy]] | year=2006 reprint|pages=p.140| isbn=0-9553515-0-2}}</ref> |
"It is a variable plant, the flowers differing in size, colour, and in the manner in which the papillae is spread over the inner surface of the sepals. A large-flowered form, grandiflora, may be distinguished by having the upper sepal densely and uniformly covered with purple papillae, while in the lateral two this covering is confined entirely to the outer half, the inner being of the purest orange-scarlet and destitute of papillae."<ref>{{cite book | author=James Herbert Veitch| title=Hortus Veitchii| publisher=[[Caradoc Doy]] | year=2006 reprint|pages=p.140| isbn=0-9553515-0-2}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 07:39, 11 October 2008
| Masdevallia veitchiana | |
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| Masdevallia veitchiana flowers Peru - Machu Picchu | |
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| Species: | M. veitchiana
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| Masdevallia veitchiana | |
Masdevallia veitchiana, (pronounced "veech-e-anna") also known as "Veitch's Masdevallia" or "King of Masdevallias", is the most beautiful species of the Masdevallia genus of orchids. The plant is found in the wild in Peru, where it is known as "Gallo-Gallo" (meaning "rooster" after the rooster-like red comb, crest and wattles of the flower)[1] and Colombia. The plant was named in honour of Harry Veitch, of the Veitch Nurseries family, by whose plant-hunters it was discovered in 1867,[2] and who imported, cultivated, and first flowered this species.[3]
Long considered the national treasure of Peru, Masdevallia Veitchiana is one of the world's most beautiful orchids.[4] It is rumoured to have been cultivated by the Incas centuries ago, who called the plant "Wajanki".[1]
Description
This cool to cold growing, large, terrestrial, sometimes lithophytic or rarely epiphytic, tufted species with erect leaves is found at a height of between 2000 and 4000 metres, including around Machu Picchu in Peru,[2] on steep rocky slopes covered with grasses and shrubs in full sun but with the leaves protected by the grass with short ramicauls enveloped by a series of tubular bracts with a linear-oblanceolate, tapered to the channelled petiolate base, acute, thick leaf that blooms in the spring and early summer with an erect, 39 to 44 cm. long, single flowered inflorescence carrying two distant, tubular bracts and a single inflated tubular, ovate floral bract with the long-lasting flowers held way above the leaves. The unequal colour distribution apparent in M. veitchiana is accorded to the presence of minute purple hairs on the sepals which lend a prismatic visual aspect to the flower. Viewed head-on with the light behind you, the colour is symmetrical.[1]
This species has unbelievable sizzling orange flowers covered in a pattern of small purple hairs that create a kind of iridescence as the flower moves in the breezes. The blooms are very large, approximately 5 cm. X 15 cm.[4]
Discovery
According to "Hortus Veitchii", "Masdevallia Veitchiana was discovered in the lofty Andes of Peru by Pearce in 1866, and successfully introduced by him. A few years later it was re-discovered in the same locality by Walter Davis, who states that it grows in the crevices and hollows of the rocks with but little soil, at an altitude of 11,000-13,000 ft.
"It is a variable plant, the flowers differing in size, colour, and in the manner in which the papillae is spread over the inner surface of the sepals. A large-flowered form, grandiflora, may be distinguished by having the upper sepal densely and uniformly covered with purple papillae, while in the lateral two this covering is confined entirely to the outer half, the inner being of the purest orange-scarlet and destitute of papillae."[5]
Cultivation
M. veitchiana is an excellent plant for beginners and experienced growers alike. It grows quickly into a specimen plant and is quite spectacular when several flowers bloom together, usually between spring and summer. M. veitchiana prefers a cool, moist location but, like most orchids, requires good light to flower consistently. In poor light the flower stems tend to be weak, causing the flowers to droop.[6] M. veitchiana prefers daytime temperatures from 15 to 25 degrees celsius and will tolerate evening low temperatures below 5 degrees. The plants will freeze, so care should be taken in times of severe frost or freezing temperatures.[2]
Propagation
Because of extensive collection in the wild, M. veitchiana is rarely imported. It is, however, propagated quite easily both from seed and by division. The plants grow very vigorously and have a rhizome from which the thick, narrow leaves develop. This rhizome can be divided to create new plants with clumps of at least five to ten leaves per division. M. veitchiana has also been used extensively to create many hybrids with its distinctive orange color.[2]
References
- ^ a b c Dale Borders (2002). "Masdevallia Veitchiana". www.orchidspecies.com. Retrieved 11 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d Tom Perlite (27 February 2008). "Masdevallia Veitchiana — Striking orchid is Bay Area novice's dream". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 11 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Lynn O'Shaughnessy. "Masdevallia veitchiana". www.pleurothallids.com. Retrieved 11 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Masdevallia Veitchiana". Cal Orchid. Retrieved 11 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ James Herbert Veitch (2006 reprint). Hortus Veitchii. Caradoc Doy. pp. p.140. ISBN 0-9553515-0-2.
{{cite book}}:|pages=has extra text (help); Check date values in:|year=(help) - ^ Alan Hope. "Masdevallias and their cultivation". Orchid Society of Victoria. Retrieved 11 October.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)
External links
