Davis' masdevallia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Davis' masdevallia
Scientific classification
Genus:	Masdevallia
Species:	davisii

Masdevallia davisii, also called Davis' masdevallia, is a beautiful type of orchid. It belongs to the Masdevallia family. People also call it the orchid of the sun. Long ago, the Inca people knew this flower as qoriwaqanki, which means "golden waqanki." They gave it this name because it looks a lot like the red Masdevallia veitchiana orchid, which they called waqanki.

This special orchid was named after Walter Davis. He was a botanist who found it near Cusco in Peru in 1873.

About the Golden Orchid

Masdevallia davisii is a stunning flower that blooms in late spring. It has a single, bright yellow flower, often with a deep orange color inside. These flowers are quite large, about 6.5 to 9 centimeters (2.5 to 3.5 inches) across. They stand tall on a slender stem, called a peduncle, which can be up to 25 centimeters (10 inches) long.

The most noticeable part of the flower is its thick sepals. These are like the outer leaves of the flower. They end in three unique "tails"—one points up, and the other two point down.

Where it Grows

You can find Masdevallia davisii growing on rocky slopes in Peru. It lives high up in the mountains, at elevations between 3,000 and 3,600 meters (about 9,800 to 11,800 feet) above sea level.

How to Grow It

If you want to grow Masdevallia davisii, you need to keep it in cool conditions. It likes partial shade, meaning it gets some sunlight but not too much direct sun.

For potting, it's best to use fine bark mixed with perlite or sphagnum moss. This helps the plant drain well. You should water it regularly, making sure the potting mix stays moist but not soaking wet.

Its Interesting Story

In 1873, a plant collector named Walter Davis was sent on a trip by a famous plant nursery, James Veitch & Sons, from Chelsea, London. His job was to find samples of M. veitchiana and other similar orchids.

While he was collecting plants near Cusco, Peru, Davis discovered a new type of Masdevallia orchid that no one had identified before. He sent some of its flowers to a plant expert named Heinrich Reichenbach. Reichenbach then described this new species in a gardening newspaper, calling it "M. davisii" after its discoverer. He wrote that it was a "beautiful thing" and that its "splendid orange inside" would look great next to red and white orchids. He was very impressed with Walter Davis as a collector.

Masdevallia davisii bloomed for the first time in England in August 1874. It quickly became very popular and was grown by many people in Europe for years. However, over time, it slowly disappeared from collections and became a "lost" orchid species. Luckily, it was found again! David Wellisch from San Francisco brought it back in 1978, and Berthold Wurstle from Spielberg, Germany reintroduced it in 1980.

See also

In Spanish: Masdevallia davisii para niños