What kind of orchid is the monkey face orchid (Dracula simia)?

Other names for the monkey face orchid

Monkey face orchid

Botanical characteristics of the monkey face orchid

The monkey face orchid (Dracula simia) is a small epiphytic orchid with short creeping stems, 30-40 cm tall, with thick, hollow stems. The leaves are opposite, broadly ovate. Roots form at the nodes where it trails along the ground. Broadly ovate, nearly as long as wide, slightly narrower toward the top. The leaves are obovate-lanceolate.

The inflorescence is a sparse raceme; the flowers are borne in opposite pairs in the leaf axils, funnel-shaped, yellow, usually with purplish-red blotches or spots, with the flower stalks growing out from the base, and the sepals and petals fused into three lobes, with the labellum at the center.

The petals look especially like a little monkey, so it is also called the monkey face orchid, and it is very cute.

Growing habits of the monkey face orchid

The monkey face orchid requires a cool growing environment; it fears intense heat, is difficult to carry through the summer, and is not tolerant of frost or cold. 10°C-25°C is the suitable cultivation temperature. In the warmer regions of the south, it can be placed outdoors in semi-shade or grown in plastic greenhouses all year round; in the Yangtze River basin or regions to the north, it should be cultivated in intermediate- or warm-temperature greenhouses, and in late autumn, winter and early spring, when temperatures are not very high, it should be given direct sunlight to help the plant form flower buds, bloom and set seed. If high-temperature weather occurs or in summer, humidity should be increased and shade netting used to lower the temperature, and when the temperature falls below 10°C it should be kept warm and heated.

Main value of the monkey face orchid

The monkey face orchid branches strongly, has unusual and large flowers, comes in many colors, and tolerates moisture and shade well. It is mostly used for potted cultivation, hanging baskets or hanging planters, and is very suitable for green decoration in places such as in front of windows in living rooms, on balcony walls, in shop windows of commercial buildings, and at the entrances of exhibition halls, being full of vitality and naturally relaxed.

Flower language of the monkey face orchid

The eldest senior brother's splendid transformation