Dendrobium section Biloba J.J.Sm.,
Orchid. Ambon (1905) 67.
Rhizome short, roots usually quite thick. Stems numerous, elongated and slender, not fleshy, many-leaved, unbranched. Leaves sheathing at the base, glabrous, usually linear and suberect, with obtuse, bilobed apex, long-lived. Inflorescences lateral from the stem, very short, 1-flowered. Flowers small, not resupinate, lasting at least several days. Lip not mobile.
Distribution
Sulawesi, Moluccas, New Guinea, Australia, Solomon islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji. About 25 species; in New Guinea c. 23 species.
Habitat
Epiphytes in lowland and montane forest.
Notes
Section Biloba, better known as sect. Monanthos, is one of the most uniform and least attractive in the genus. The plants typically have many tufted, thin and unbranched stems, thick roots, and relatively short leaves, bilobed at the tip, which are often held almost parallel to the stems. The flowers are solitary, small, with the lip uppermost (i.e. not resupinated), and rather dull coloured. Section Biloba is probably related to section Herpetophytum, see there for some comparative notes.