Dendrobium ferdinandi Kraenzl., in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 50. II. B. 21 (1910) 209.
Type: Melbourne cult. (Bailey) s.n. (N. Guinea, probably SE part) (holo B, lost).
Stems branching, sharply laterally flattened, zigzag, narrowing to the base, internodes c. 2 cm long. Leaves scalpelliform, falcate, 3-3.5 by 0.4-0.5 cm, acuminate. Inflorescences racemose, very short. Floral bracts in head-like clusters. Flowers c. 1 cm long. Dorsal sepal ovate-oblong, apex acute. Lateral sepals triangular, slightly falcate, apex acute; mentum open in front, a little shorter than the free part of the lateral sepals. Petals a little shorter than the dorsal sepal, ovate-oblong, apex acute. Lip spathulate, 1 by 0.3 cm, base linear, widening towards the apex, rounded on either side, then contracted, widened again in apical part, on the disc with 3 slightly raised lines, apical part with crenulate margins, weakly emarginate, almost bilobulate. Clinandrium with smooth margins, filament rather long.
(after Kraenzlin, 1910).
Colours: Flower reddish, lip purple.
Habitat: Not known.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (probably from the Southeastern part).