Masdevallia goliath is a species of epiphytic orchid native to northeastern Peru and southeastern Ecuador but is cultivated as an ornamental elsewhere. It grows in nature in cloud forests at elevations over 1500 m.Luer, Carlyle A. 1992. Three new species of Masdevallia (Orchidaceae) from South America. Novon 2:6-11.Dodson, C.H. 2002. Lepanthopsis–Oliveriana. 3: 433–651. In C.H. Dodson. Native Ecuadorian Orchids. Colina, Medellin.Jørgensen, P. M. & S. León-Yánez. (eds.) 1999. Catalogue of the vascular plants of Ecuador, Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 75: i–viii, 1–1181. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis.
Masdevallia goliath is an epiphytic herb. Leaves are thick and leathery, narrow, up to 25 cm long. Inflorescence is a short raceme on a purple flowering stalk. Sepals are thick, dark reddish-purple, up to 30 mm long, tapering to a long narrow point. Lateral petals are up to 6 mm long, yellow with purple spots; lip up to 6 mm long, yellow-orange with red-purple spots.photo of holotype of Masdevallia goliath at Missouri Botanical GardenLuer, Carlyle. 2006. Monographs in systematic botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 105:12. 2006.
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