Medium sized epilith, terrestrial or rarely epiphyte. Stems short, tufted. Leaves elliptic to obovate, to 25 cm long, to 5 cm wide, fleshy, dark green. Inflorescences to 60 cm long, erect. Flowers 1?8, to 5 cm wide, developing successively, yellow or greenish with maroon or violet-black suffusions, tails violet; winter. Sepals similar, coarsely hairy, all fused at base, laterals fused for about 2.5 cm. Petals small, obovate. Labellum oblong to almost circular, concave, white to pinkish, pink or orange at base.

Colombia.

D. vampira (Luer) Luer from Ecuador is a medium sized epiphyte with pendent inflorescences, greenish or yellow flowers veined violet-black that open successively, long tails on the sepals and a relatively large concave labellum. Syn. Masdevallia vampira Luer.

Source: Jeanes, J. (2005). Orchidaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.