Dendrobium heteroglossum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 593; 21 (1928) t. 198, fig. 746.
Type: Schlechter 19866 (holo B, lost).
Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, patent, straight to rather straight, 50-60 cm long, densely many-leaved, unbranched. Leaf sheaths entirely covering the stem. Leaves erect-patent, elliptic, 10-13 by 2.9-3.5 cm, apex acuminate. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem, peduncle hardly developed, 2-flowered, short, laterally compressed, broadly obtuse. Ovary 1 cm long, subsessile, cylindrical, glabrous. Flowers c. 5 cm across, highly fragrant. Dorsal sepal erect, lanceolate-ligulate, 2.5 cm long, apex subacute. Lateral sepals erect, obliquely lanceolate-ligulate, a little widened at the base, 2.5 cm long, apex subacute; mentum short, obtuse. Petals erect, obliquely linear, 2.5 cm long, apex acute. Lip 3-lobed near the middle, 0.9 by 0.65 cm, in basal half with slightly thickened veins, with a verrucose linear basal keel extending to the base of the midlobe, on the midlobe, except along the margins, with backwards pointing subulate papillae; lateral lobes obliquely oblong, obtuse; midlobe much larger, ovate, margins irregular, apex subacute. Column short, rather thick, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules rounded, the median tooth-like, obtuse; column-foot incurved. Anther rounded helmet-shaped, glabrous, truncate in front.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Sepals and petals dark purple, the lip light yellow with dark purple markings on the lateral lobes, the column light yellow.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland and lower montane forest. Altitude 200 to 1200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June-October.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Timika Mimika Regency); Papua New Guinea (Morobe and Oro Provinces).
Map: HETGLMAP.JPG [Dendrobium heteroglossum Schltr., distribution map.]
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.