masdevallia
(mæsdɪˈvælɪə)
[mod.L. (H. Ruiz Lopez & J. Pavon Floræ Peruvianæ et Chilensis Prodromus (1794) 122), f. the name of Jose Masdevall (d. 1801), Spanish physician and botanist + -ia1.]
An epiphytic orchid of the large genus so called, belonging to the family Orchidaceæ and native to the cool, mountainous regions of South America.
| 1845 Curtis's Bot. Mag. LXXI. 4164 Windowed Masdevallia...is one of the very curious productions of nature. 1896 F. H. Woolward Genus Masdevallia 1 The first Masdevallia known to science was..discovered by the Spanish botanists, Ruiz and Pavon, in the Andes of Peru, during their residence in that country from 1777 to 1794. 1911 Encycl. Brit. XX. 172/1 Masdevallia is common in cultivation and has often brilliant scarlet, crimson or orange flowers. 1970 B. & W. Rittershausen Pop. Orchids ix. 211 The flower [of Masdevallia muscosa] is of a translucent yellow colour, the lip being somewhat large for Masdevallias. |