Latin dracula − little dragon; a reference to the bizarre flowers of some species.
Epiphytic or epilithic herbs, sympodial, with short creeping rhizomes. Stems not thickened into pseudobulbs, short, slender, erect, covered by papery sheaths. Leaves apical, solitary, thin, keeled, minutely 3-toothed at tip, stalkless or shortly stalked. Inflorescences terminal racemes, erect or drooping. Flowers resupinate, 1- few, small to large, variously coloured. Sepals large and showy, fused at base into a cup, laterals usually fused, free part tailed. Petals much smaller than sepals. Labellum small, entire, often concave, clawed, hinged to base of column foot. Column short, with a slender foot. Pollinia 2, waxy.
About 60 species from C and S America.
Distinguished from Masdevallia by the thinner leaves, pendent flowers and the clawed labellum attached to the column foot.
Luer (1978a).
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.