Pleurothallis is a genus of orchids commonly called bonnet orchids. The genus name is derived from the Greek word pleurothallos, meaning "riblike branches". This refers to the rib-like stems of many species. The genus is often abbreviated as "Pths" in horticultural trade.
Restrepia, abbreviated Rstp in horticultural trade, is a small genus of 50 species in the orchid family (Orchidaceae), closely related to Pleurothallis. Named in honor of Don Jose Restrepo, it tends to be more showy than most other Pleurothallids. They are found primarily at higher altitudes in the cool, damp montane forests of the Andes and Venezuela, with some into Central America up to southern Mexico.
Stelis, or leach orchids, is a large genus of orchids, with perhaps 500 species. The generic name Stelis is the Greek word for 'mistletoe', referring to the epiphytic habit of these species. These mainly epiphytic plants are widely distributed throughout much of South America, Central America, Mexico, the West Indies and Florida. Stelis is abbreviated Ste. in the horticultural trade.
Masdevallia, abbreviated Masd in horticultural trade, is a large genus of flowering plants of the Pleurothallidinae, a subtribe of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). There are over 500 species, grouped into several subgenera. The genus is named for Jose Masdevall (?-1801), a physician and botanist in the court of Charles III of Spain.
The orchid genus Dracula, abbreviated as Drac in horticultural trade, consists of 118 species native to Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The name Dracula literally means "little dragon", an allusion to the mythical Count Dracula, a lead character in numerous vampire novels and films. The name was applied to the orchid because of the blood-red color of several of the species, and the strange aspect of the long spurs of the sepals. 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.
Restrepiella ophiocephala, commonly called the Snake's head restrepiella is an epiphytic orchid native to Mexico, Central America, Colombia, and Florida. The epithet ophiocephala is derived from the Greek words ὄφις, ophis (snake) and κεφαλή, kephalē (head).
Teagueia is a genus of orchids. They are found at high altitudes in the Andes in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador.
Dracula vampira is an epiphytic orchid species, endemic to Ecuador.
Epidendrum armeniacum is an epiphytic species of reed-stemmed Epidendrum orchid that grows wild in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru, at altitudes of 1–2 km.
Barbosella cogniauxiana is a species of orchid.
Barbosella crassifolia is a species of orchid endemic to Brazil.
Cycnoches haagii is a species of orchid native to tropical South America.
Epidendrum ruizianum is an epiphytic reed-stemmed Epidendrum of the orchid family native to the cloud forests of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, at altitudes of 2–3 km.
Epidendrum parvilabre is a sympodial terrestrial orchid native to the mountainous (~2 km) tropical rainforests of Ecuador and Piura, Peru.
Epidendrum fimbriatum is a terrestrial orchid native to high altitudes (2.2—3.4 km) in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Masdevallia unguentum was discovered in 2010 in the collection of Finca Dracula and is reported from Colombia. It is morphologically similar to Masdevallia marthae which was also discovered in cultivation without collection data but was later re-discovered in 1993 on the road to a television tower in the Department of Risaralda, Colombia Both are members of the subsection Saltatrices which is characterized by flowers with a tubular calyx.
Dracula simia, known also as the monkey-like Dracula, is an epiphytic orchid originally described as part of the genus Masdevallia, but later reclassified as part of genus Dracula. The arrangement of column, petals and lip resembles a monkey's face. The plant blooms at any season with several flowers on the inflorescence that open successively. Flowers are fragrant with the scent of a ripe orange. The monkey orchid is native to the cloud forests of Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia. Although it was first documented in Ecuador, its natural habitat extends across these three countries. Currently, this orchid is in danger of extinction due to habitat destruction and over-collection.
Scaphyglottis atwoodii is a species of epiphytic orchid from Costa Rica. It is known from only one location at Finca de Selva, 3 km east of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí.
Masdevallia odontocera, the tusked masdevallia, is a species of epiphytic orchid native to the cloud forests of Colombia. The species name is derived from Greek odontoceras, meaning "a tusk". This is in reference to the appearance of the lateral sepals.
Rodrigo Escobar y Restrepo (1935–2009) was a Colombian botanist, and a leading specialist in orchids.
