Dracula lotax is one of the smallest Dracula species. Since "lotax" means "clown" this is the Clown Dracula, a rather humorous combination of names, but a reference to the fancied clown-face in the center of the flower. Though this species is somewhat inaptly named, many of the larger Dracula species do resemble bats or the Vampire named after them.
The plant in this case is 15 cm tall and the flowers 5 cm including the tails. The leaves are upright and grass-like and the flowers come from the base of the leaves, but do not grow down through the medium like some of the the other species, but stick out from the base of the plant at approximately a ninety degree angle. I grow mine in a plastic net pot and live sphagnum.
Showing posts with label dracula lotax. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dracula lotax. Show all posts
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Monday, May 2, 2011
Dracula lotax
This is one of those orchid names that makes me laugh. There is a whole group of orchids, well over a hundred species, called Draculas, named for their odd flowers and their fancied resemblance to a dragon's mouth. They are related to Masdevallia and belong to the group of Central and South American orchids known as Pleurothallids.
The name of this species is especially humorous since lotax means "clown," so that it is literally the "Clown Dracula," which is rather incongruous. It is so named however, because it has a little clown's face in the center of the flower. It is the name Dracula that really does not fit, since this miniature species does not have the dark, bat-wing flowers of some other species in the genus.
The plant is 12 cm tall and the flowers about half that size. It requires relatively low light, cool and damp conditions, and can be grown in a pot since its flower spikes are held upright, unlike those species that send their spikes downward. I grow it in live sphagnum moss in a net pot and keep it as far away from the lights as is possible in my orchidarium.
The name of this species is especially humorous since lotax means "clown," so that it is literally the "Clown Dracula," which is rather incongruous. It is so named however, because it has a little clown's face in the center of the flower. It is the name Dracula that really does not fit, since this miniature species does not have the dark, bat-wing flowers of some other species in the genus.
The plant is 12 cm tall and the flowers about half that size. It requires relatively low light, cool and damp conditions, and can be grown in a pot since its flower spikes are held upright, unlike those species that send their spikes downward. I grow it in live sphagnum moss in a net pot and keep it as far away from the lights as is possible in my orchidarium.
Labels:
dracula,
dracula lotax,
ecuador,
orchid,
pleurothallid
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)