Orchidaceae
Dracula

Dracula vampira (Luer) Luer

First published in Selbyana 2: 198 (1978)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is N. Central Ecuador. It is an epiphyte and grows primarily in the wet tropical biome.

Descriptions

Kew Species Profiles

General Description

Dracula vampira is a striking orchid that is only found in the cloud forests of one mountain range in Ecuador. It grows on mossy trees, attached by its roots that also absorb water. It is highly sought after by orchid enthusiasts who wish to cultivate this weird and wonderfully captivating plant for its gothic beauty.

The generic name Dracula means 'a little dragon' and alludes to the fancied appearance of the flowers (Luer 1986). Most people wrongly believe that the name refers to the fictional Count Dracula.

Species Profile
Geography and distribution

Dracula vampira is native to Ecuador. It is found in cool cloud forests at 1,800-2,200 m above sea level.

Description

Overview : A herbaceous epiphyte, about 15-28 cm tall.

Leaves: Green, strap-shaped, about 15-28 cm long.

Flowers: The large sepals are the most noticeable feature of the flower; they are broad at the base and narrow into a long thin tail. The sepals are pale green but look much darker due to the purplish black veins that converge at the narrowed tips. The much smaller petals are white with purplish veins and look rather insignificant compared to the sepals. The small fungus-like lip is white with pinkish veins.

There can be up to six flowers on a single inflorescence, opening one by one over the flowering season. The flowers are 20-30 cm wide (including the tails) and face downward on the pendent inflorescence.

Threats and conservation

The biggest threat to this species is collection from the wild, as it is seen as a collector's item by many orchid enthusiasts. Habitat loss is also a concern, particularly as Dracula vampira only occurs in a relatively small area of Ecuador.

Uses

Dracula vampira is grown as an ornamental by specialist orchid enthusiasts and nurseries.

Cultivation

Vampire orchid is grown at Kew mounted onto cork oak ( Quercus suber ) bark, with moss around its roots to help retain moisture. This method mimics the way it grows in the wild (attached to mossy trunks of trees in the cloud forests of Ecuador). High humidity and a shady position are needed throughout the year to achieve the best results.

This species at Kew

Dracula vampira is cultivated behind-the-scenes in Kew's Tropical Nursery, where plants are grown for scientific study or ornamental use in the display houses.

Dried and alcohol-preserved specimens of Dracula vampira are held in Kew's Herbarium. The details of some of these can be seen online in Kew's Herbarium Catalogue.

Distribution
Ecuador
Ecology
Cloud forest.
Conservation
Listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List (1997), though this status no longer applies. Listed in Appendix II of CITES.
Hazards

None known.

[KSP]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Uses

Use
Ornamental.
[KSP]

Common Names

English
Vampire orchid

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images

  • Kew Species Profiles

    • Kew Species Profiles
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0