Masdevallia lata

Masdevallia lata is a remarkable species that is in flower for most of the year with us. The large red and yellow flowers open successively on flower spikes that each produce several flowers over many months.

The colour combination in Masdevallia lata is common in the genus and we grow several such as Masdevallia rolfeana, masdevallia calura and masdevallia pyxis (see below). The pollination of Masdevallias appears to be very inder researched and it would be great to know more about the success of this common colour combination. 

While the presentaion of the flowers well clear of the foliage may indicate humming bird pollination, the subdued colours may indicate that flie species (such as fungus flies) are more likely.

Masdevallia lata is found in Costa Rica and Panama in warm forest up to 800. I have had the pleasure of exploring this habitat and found warm forests here to be much wetter than forests at similar altitudes in Brazil and Guatemala. Never the less, we found the Pleurothallidinae present in warm forests to be restricted to heavy shade to avoid heat stress.

We grow Masdevallia lata among our other Masdevallias low down in our Cloud Forest Greenhouse although its natural range suggests it can grow much warmer.

Masdevallia lata is found in Costa Rica and Panama in warm forest up to 800. I have had the pleasure of exploring this habitat and found warm forests here to be much wetter than forests at similar altitudes in Brazil and Guatemala. Never the less, we found the Pleurothallidinae present in warm forests to be restricted to heavy shade to avoid heat stress.