The orchid genus Dracula, abbreviated as Drac in horticultural trade, consists of 118 species native to Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.[1] The name Dracula literally means "little dragon", an allusion to the mythical Count Dracula, a lead character in numerous vampire novels and films.[2][3] The name was applied to the orchid because of the blood-red color of several of the species, the strange aspect of the long spurs of thesepals.[4] The plants were once included in the genus Masdevallia, but became a separate genus in 1978. This genus has been placed in the subtribe Pleurothallidinae.
Contents
[hide]- 1Description
- 2Taxonomy
- 3Hybrids
- 4Footnote
- 5References
- 6External links