[3] Psychopsis are epiphytic orchids with laterally crushed cylindrical pseudobulbs from which two fleshy coriaceous leaves appear apically, in their center two floral wands emerge with large golden yellow flowers with purple spots on bands in sepals and on the lip whose edges are forming folds.

The flowers look like large butterflies with brightly colored bodies (the lip, a modified petal), very long antennae-like petals, and outspread wing-like dappled yellow and brown sepals.

The butterfly orchid is rumored to have started the European "Orchidmania" of the 19th century.

[4] Psychopsis was formerly included in the massively paraphyletic "wastebin genus" Oncidium within the section Glanduligera, named after the genus's distinctive oil-secreting glands.

The species Psychopsiella limminghei was once included in Psychopsis but is now accepted as its own monotypic genus.