Masdevallia lilacinaThis small sized epiphyte hails from northern Peru and southeast Ecuador where it grows at altitudes of 1500 to 2000 meters. The name, Masdevallia lilacina, is supposed to reflect the lilac color of the flowers, and I must say that I was actually a smidge disappointed when mine turned out more cream and green than lilac…! Oh, don’t get me wrong. I love green flowers almost above all, but I was expecting them to be beautifully sheer lilac… me… purple girl… Oh well, I still love the elegant shape for the flowers with the graceful sepaline tails. This is the first time it blooms for me and I got 5 flowers for starters. Perhaps next time the color will be more true – if it even is a lilacina at all… The species is pretty similar to Masdevallia roseola but not as strikingly colored and no scent. If it turns out anything like my amazing M. roseola I will be very pleased – be it green or not.

Edit: Looks like we might have a correction on the ID… it looks a lot more like Masdevallia pumila than it does lilacina. Thanks Ron!

Masdevallia lilacinaMasdevallia lilacinaMasdevallia lilacina