The London Orchid Show celebrates its golden anniversary this year. Henry Oakeley charts the waves of discovery and hybridisation which have made Masdevallia ideal orchids for the beginner’s windowsill, and stars of the show

Above: A range of hybrids including M. Mary Staal (white), M. Rose Mary (purple), M. Falcon Sunrise x constricta (white and orange) and M. Mary Staal x davisii (orange) (photography © copyright Henry Oakeley)

Orchids are subject to sweeps of fashion just as any other group of plants. The most popular orchid to grow 25 years ago was Cymbidium, but it occupied so much space that growers started to turn to smaller orchids, such as Phalaenopsis (moth orchids). These are easier to grow than African violets which, bar a few different colours, can look similar. In recent years another genus has exploded in popularity, Masdevallia, from Central and South America. A wave of hybridisation, fed by the discovery of many new species, has produced flowers in a range of mysterious shapes and fluorescent colours. They have gone on to create a sensation among growers; 20 masdevallia can be grown in the space occupied by one cymbidium, and they will tolerate much cooler temperatures than the minimum 16°C (60°F) needed by Phalaenopsis. Flowers are produced throughout the year, with individual plants in flower for months.

Left: Masdevallia hercules’ large flowers can last two months (photograph © copyright Henry Oakeley)

The flowers of masdevallias do not have the large petals and elaborately sculpted lip of most orchids, instead most have prominent sepals with tendril-like tails. Their centres are sometimes fused to form tubes and trumpets that are pollinated by hummingbirds collecting the nectar. Flower size ranges from 1–15cm (1/2–6in), in colours including white, green, purple, brown, pink and all the colour range from yellow through to scarlet, with stripes and spots of every hue but blue. The leaves are fleshy and narrow, arising from rhizomes. Flowers, single or multiple, are held on scapes (stalks) from 2–30cm (1–12in) long.

Most masdevallias have no fragrance but there are some which smell unpleasant expressly to attract pollinating carrion flies, such as M. atahualpa (which was named after the last Inca king, Atahualpa) and the equally malodorous M. colossus. Some are more fragrant: the rich, honey scent of the multiflowered spikes of M. lehmannii, or M. glandulosa and its hybrids, will fill a greenhouse or indoor room with scent from dawn until dusk.

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