Smithsonian Gardens

Common name: The Unequaled Dracula

Family: Orchidaceae subfam. Epidendroideae (Orchid)

Distribution: Colombia

Habitat: Rainforests and foothills; 1312-7220ft (400-2200m)

Life form: Epiphytic

Bloom Time (northern hemisphere): Year round; peaks from May to August

Bloom characteristics: Pendulous inflorescence is 7" (17.5 cm) long with a single, white, bell-shaped flower. Flower is 2.5" (6.5 cm) across.

Pollination syndrome: Fly (fungus fly, Zygothrica)

Description: This small orchid is for lovers of the macabre. Although it is not named for the famous fictional vampire, its genus does translate from the Latin for “little dragon,” its flowers mimic fungus, and it is pollinated by flies. All Dracula orchids are thought to imitate mushrooms to lure in their pollinators, which male fungus flies use as a place to meet females, and the females may even use as a place to lay their eggs. Whether or not the dracula flowers are a better place for lone flies to meet than their original mushrooms, and how this all evolved, is a current topic of study for very patient scientists.