Dendrobium andreemillarae T.M.Reeve, Orchadian 7 (1982) 130, fig. 1.
Type: NGF (Millar) 37783 (holo LAE).
An epiphytic herb up to 20 cm high. Roots very thick, glabrous, up to 4.5 mm diameter. Rhizomes very short. Stems 0.3-1.8 cm apart, slender, cylindrical, 3-20 by 0.15-0.3 cm, branching or not. Leaves narrowly elliptic to broadly ovate, 2-6 by 0.8-2.5 cm, fleshy, acute. Inflorescences arising from both leafy and leafless stems, 1- to 4-flowered, peduncle and rachis short; bracts orbicular, 5-7 by 5-7 mm, apiculate, concave. Ovary with pedicel 1.7-2.3 cm long, ovary 6-grooved. Flowers large, waxy and fleshy, glabrous, widely opening, 2.6-3.1 cm long. Dorsal sepal oblong-ovate, 1.3-1.5 cm by 6-7 mm, subacute; lateral sepals 2.1-2.4 by 8 mm, fused at front of mentum for c. 3 mm; mentum apex obtuse to slightly bilobed, in side view mentum shortly tapered near the apex. Petals obovate, 1.4-1.7 cm by 7-8 mm, obtuse. Lip boat-shaped (with flat bottom), slightly incurved, 2.5-2.8 cm by 4-5 mm (expanded width 13-15 mm), with prominent U-shaped transverse ridge c. 6 mm from the base, apex extending 7-8 mm above top of the column (and also longer than the lateral sepals). Column typical of the section, c. 4.5 by 4 mm; column foot 11-12 mm long; anther cucullate, emarginate, c. 3 by 3 mm.
(after Reeve, 1982).
Colours: Roots white with orange tips. Stems green to greenish-yellow, blackish at the nodes. Leaves mid green. Flower bright purple to purplish pink; lip orange to orange-red, margins white, apex tinged purplish (always?); apical and dorsal part of mentum white.
Habitat: Epiphyte on Nothofagus in moss forest, growing in moss clumps. Altitude 2300 to 3000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July, August.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Enga and Morobe Provinces).
Map: ANDREMAP.JPG [Dendrobium andreemillarae T.M.Reeve, distribution map.]
Notes: In colour and shape the flowers of Dendrobium andreemillarae are rather similar to those of Dendrobium laevifolium, but the latter has distinct swollen pseudobulbs, much thinner roots, and a mentum which in side view is tapered all the way from base to apex.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte, requires light shade. Judging from its habitat it should never be allowed to dry out.