Name: Masdevallia xanthina Rchb.f. (color form / selection “Red”)
Synonyms: Masdevallia pallida (Woolward) Luer; Masdevallia xanthina var. pallida Woolward
Etymology: xanthina derives from the Greek xanthos (yellow) and refers to the typical base color of the original form. The addition “Red” denotes a horticultural selection or natural color variant with intensely reddish petals.

First described: 1880 by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in “The Gardeners' Chronicle”.
Origin / distribution:
Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Growing location / habitat:
Epiphytic in cool, humid mountain forests and cloud forests of the Andes at elevations of approximately 1,800 to 2,800 m. It prefers shady locations with high humidity year-round.
Description & notes:
Masdevallia xanthina is a compact-growing, clump-forming miniature orchid without pseudobulbs. It has upright, leathery, obovate leaves. While the typical original form has light yellow to cream-colored flowers, the “Red” selection stands out for the strong reddish to orange-red pigmentation of its broad lateral sepals. The flowers have the genus-typical calyx tube and taper into fine, yellowish tails (tips).

In cultivation, this highland species requires cool to intermediate conditions with a noticeable drop in temperature at night. As it has no storage organs, it is sensitive to drying out; the substrate (fine bark or sphagnum moss) must be kept evenly moist at all times, but not waterlogged. A shady location without direct sunlight, together with consistently high humidity (over 70%) and constant air movement, is essential for successful cultivation.