Name: Masdevallia vargasii C.Schweinf.
Synonyms: Alaticaulia vargasii (C.Schweinf.) Luer; Masdevallia megaloglossa Luer & R.Escobar; Masdevallia richteri Pabst; Masdevallia helgae Königer & J.Portilla Etymology:vargasii = in honor of the Peruvian botanist and university professor César Vargas Calderón (1903–2002).
 
First description:In 1950 by Charles Schweinfurth in the “American Orchid Society Bulletin”.
Origin / Distribution: Southern Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Guyana.
Location / Habitat: Grows epiphytically in humid tropical lowland to montane cloud forests. It primarily inhabits shady, humid areas on tree trunks at elevations of approximately 400 to 1,300 m.
Description & Notes: Masdevallia vargasii belongs to the section Alaticaules and is a compact-growing, robust miniature to small orchid species without pseudobulbs. It produces upright, leathery, narrowly elliptic leaves. The inflorescences are upright, usually triangular in cross-section, and produce several waxy flowers in succession. The sepals are fused into a tube and end in elegant, yellowish, threadlike tips (tails). The flowers range in color from pale yellow through cream to strikingly purple-striped or reddish-tinged forms.

In cultivation, this species is considered relatively adaptable compared with strictly highland Masdevallias and is classified as intermediate to warm-growing. It tolerates moderate summer temperatures much better than cold-loving relatives. Nevertheless, it requires a shady location year-round (no direct sunlight), consistently high humidity (75–90%), and excellent air circulation. As it has no storage organs, the growing medium (fine bark or sphagnum moss) must never dry out completely, but must be very well-drained to prevent waterlogging. Water only with lime-free, low-salt water.