Small epiphyte or rarely terrestrial. Pseudobulbs usually spherical or ovoid, to 8 cm long, clustered. Leaves 1?5, linear to ovate, to 4 cm long, to 1.5 cm wide, dark green, often warty above. Flowers solitary, to 5 cm wide, red, purple, pink, orange, yellow or white; summer to spring. Sepals oblong, laterals forming a spur at base. Petals obovate to almost round. Labellum obovate, concave. Syn. D. sophronites Schltr.
Occasionally cultivated are:
D. vexillarius J.J. Sm., which is a small to medium sized epiphyte or terrestrial with variously coloured flowers and a green to black labellum with a bright orange or red tip.
D. violaceum Kraenzl., which is a medium sized epiphyte usually with pink to violet flowers and a bright orange or red tip on the labellum.
New Guinea.
Source: (2005). Orchidaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.