The species is epiphyllous, meaning it grows on the surfaces of living leaves, and is found in subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest habitats.

[4] It is known only from a single type specimen collected in 1860 by Charles Wright in Cuba, and its current population status is unknown.

The leaves have a smooth keel (the folded edge) that forms a wide angle (90–135 degrees) with the leaf's free ventral margin.

The IUCN Red List assessed D. senticosa as Critically Endangered in 2000 due to its extremely restricted range (known from only one locality), declining habitat quality, and presumably very small population size.

[1] While the specific threats to D. senticosa are not well documented, its extreme rarity and occurrence in a generally threatened habitat type make it particularly vulnerable to extinction.