Native to Central America, this orchid grows to 1 foot in height. Its flowers are 5 inches across and bat-like, with the lip and column held apart from the petals and sepals. The coloring is white dotted with red and a yellow throat. Several flower spikes with up to six blooms per spike can be produced in one season. It requires warm indoor temperatures and needs to be exposed to good light, high humidity, and plenty of water and fertilizer while actively growing. It should not be watered when dormant. Like all stanhopeas, it must be grown in a hanging basket with openings to accommodate the flower spikes that burrow through the potting mix to emerge underneath or at the side.

The orchid family consists of a large number of genera, each with its own unique characteristics. A common characteristic, however, is the basic form of the flower, which consists of three petals surrounded by three sepals -- often in dramatic and contrasting colors and in a variety of shapes and sizes. Although some orchids are native to temperate zones, most orchids tend to prefer a semi-tropical or tropical environment (USDA Zones 9-11) and have epiphytic roots -- meaning they derive moisture and nutrients from the air and support from another plant; few orchids grow in soil. Orchids usually prefer a diurnal temperature fluctuation -- meaning warmer days and cooler nights -- though the absolute temperature range (cool, intermediate or warm) varies by genus and is consistent with their natural habitat. While requiring adequate sunlight for a stunning bloom display, most orchids will not tolerate sustained direct sun.

Many varieties have pseudobulbs, a portion of the stem between leaf nodes that stores water to help sustain the plant through dry periods. Other varieties are monopodial, meaning upward growth is from a single growing point.

There is an exception to almost every general statement one can make about orchids. The family continues to challenge taxonomists.