dracula orchid

The genus Dracula is fairly ''young ''- it was not created until 1978 through the division of the large genus Masdevalia . The enigmatic name of the genus (the Latin word ''dracula'' means ''little dragon'') suggests the picturesque and mysterious appearnce of the flowers of some species . The generic name ,as well as some of the species names ,(such as D. vampira,D. chimaera), aroused a huge interest in the part of orchid growers ,resulting in the fact that many species are currently cultivated in sufficient numbers. At present ,the genus Dracula includes approximately 80 epiphytic or terrestrial species. They bear an uncanny resemblance to one another in morphology and look like orchids from the ''maternal'' genus Masdevalia. The plant do not form pseudobulbs and their fundamental part is a shortened rhizome bearing a crowded cluster of thin ,dwarfed stems-each one bearing one elongated leaf. Sometimes the leaves are succulent ,thus assuming the function of storage organs . The flower spikes are usually erect or partially overhanging ;in the case of several epiphytic species ,they are even able to grow through the roots- the flowers then appear suspended under the plants . On the top of the spikes ,there appears usually only one flower. If there are more ,they open gradually one by one in very long intervels from eachother .The flowers are ephemeral ,and bizzare in appearance ,dominated by a symmetrically arranged trio of sepals ,whose tips extended to extreme lengths. The lip is small and inconspicious . The edges of the tepals are oftern frilled . An overwhelming majority of Dracula orchids come from higher elevations of the south American Andes. The plants prefer well- ventilated shady environments with stable cool temperatures. The roots must never be left to overdry;it is therefore recommended to avoid epiphytic culture . Observe the cultivation rules that apply to growing cryophilic orchids of the genus Masdevalia. With most Dracula orchids ,flowers appear in the spring ,or irregularly . The plants are known to grow in the higher altitudes of Central ,and especially South ,America.