Dracula simia (Luer) Luer

"Dracula simia (Luer) Luer, called also monkey orchid or the monkey-like Dracula, is an epiphytic orchid originally described in the genus Masdevallia, but later moved to the genus Dracula.[1] The arrangement of column, petals and lip strongly resembles a monkey's face. The plant blooms at any season with several flowers on the inflorescence that open successively. Flowers are fragrant with the scent of a ripe orange."

Dracula simia (Luer) Luer, Selbyana 2: 197 (1978).

Dracula simia (Luer) Luer, Photo by Carlos Augusto Mesa Londoño

its native range is SE. Ecuador.

Latinh Name: 

Dracula simia (Luer) Luer

Family: 

Orchidaceae Juss.

Synonym:

Masdevallia simia Luer

English Name:

The Monkey-Like Dracula.

Description: 

With erect, stout ramicauls enveloped basally by 2 to 3 loose, tubular sheatsh and carrying a single, apical, erect, thinly coriaceous, carinate, narrowly elliptial-linear, acute, gradually narrowing below into the conduplicate, indistinct, subpetiolate base leaf that blooms in the winter, spring and fall on a stout, subverrucose, sparsely bracted, horizontal to descending, 10 to 15 cm long, congested, successively few flowered inflorescence arising from low on the ramicaul and carrying a tubular floral bract and large flowers resembling a monkey's face.

Distribution:

Ecuador.

Ecological:

In cloud forests from elevations of 1000 to 2000 m as a small sized, cool growing epiphyte.

Flowering times:

Blooms in the winter, spring and fall.

Flower size:

5.0 x 10.0 cm.

Cultivation:

Climate: Intermediate

Air Circulation: Medium

Light: Low

Humidity: High

Size: Medium

Light:

Shade; 500-1500 Footcandles (indirect low light,slight shadowing).

Temperature:

Intermediate to Cool; 52°F min. to 80°F max.

Watering:

Daily Watering;1 or more waterings per day (should not dry out).

Typus:

Reference: 

- theplantlist.org

- ipni.org/n/313405-2

- orchidspecies.com/dracsimia.htm. 

- powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:84019-2

- orchidsnewguinea.com/orchid-information/species/speciescode/2258

- ecuagenera.com/Dracula-simia/en

- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracula_simia