Name: Dracula diabola Luer & R.Escobar
Etymology: diabola = devilish — refers to the dramatic, almost menacing appearance of the dark-colored flower with its long, tapering tails.

First described: In 1979 by Carlyle A. Luer and Rodrigo Escobar in Orquideologia (13: 124).
Origin / Distribution: Colombia (endemic to the Department of Boyacá).
Location / Habitat: Grows epiphytically in cool, extremely humid cloud and mist forests of the Andes at elevations of approximately 2,200 to 2,400 meters. It inhabits deeply shaded, permanently moist areas on moss-covered tree trunks in the lower understory.
Description & Notes: Dracula diabola is a medium-sized, clump-forming orchid without pseudobulbs, producing upright, robust, leathery, narrowly elliptic leaves. The spectacular solitary flowers appear on creeping to downward-facing inflorescences. The sepals are widely spread, densely covered on the inner surface with dark reddish-brown to almost black papillae, and end in long, threadlike tails. The center of the flower forms an intense contrast with the small, whitish, mushroom-cap-shaped lip (epichile).

In cultivation, this highland species requires consistently cool conditions with a pronounced nighttime temperature drop; prolonged summer heat is not tolerated. Since the inflorescences grow strictly downward or horizontally through the substrate, cultivation in hanging slatted baskets or open-mesh pots is essential. The substrate (preferably pure, live sphagnum moss) must be kept consistently moist and must never dry out completely. Humidity above 75–80% and steady, gentle air circulation are essential.

In vitro culture: You will receive a flask containing 4 plantlets. The plants are generally already large enough to be deflasked. After opening, carefully remove all the nutrient medium from the fine roots with lukewarm water and plant the plantlets in a fine, very airy, slightly moisture-retentive substrate with sphagnum. We recommend very high humidity, cool to moderate temperatures, and sheltered light during the first few weeks. Keep evenly moist, avoid complete drying, and at the same time provide gentle, continuous air movement.