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Definition of masdevallia
masdevallia
/ˌmæz.dəˈvæl.i.ə/
mas · de · val · li · a
Plural:masdevallias
masdevallia Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any orchid of the genus Masdevallia, native to the high-altitude cloud forests of tropical America from Mexico to southern Brazil, distinguished by their brilliantly colored, often triangular flowers formed by fused sepals.
Example
"The greenhouse curator carefully adjusted the cooling system and misting schedule to mimic the strict environmental conditions required by the masdevallia."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for masdevallia• Rhymes for masdevallia
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named in 1794 by botanists Hipólito Ruiz López and José Antonio Pavón Jiménez in honor of José Masdeval, an 18th-century Spanish physician and botanist at the court of King Charles III.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Masdevallia. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/masdevallia