Dendrobium ochranthum Schltr., in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 171; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 203, fig. 764.
Type: Schlechter 14656 (holo B, lost).
Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, pendulous, terete at the base, slightly laterally compressed in the upper part, 100 cm long, densely many-leaved. Leaves patent, oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 10-13 by 3-5 cm, apex unequally bilobulate, subcoriaceous. Inflorescences arising seemingly from the leaf axils, 2-flowered; spathe laterally compressed, cucullate. Floral bracts lanceolate, small, shorter than the ovary, apex acuminate. Pedicel and ovary 1.3 cm long, clavate, glabrous. Flowers c. 2.5 cm across. Dorsal sepal oblong, 1.5 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong, widened at the base, 1.5 cm long, apex subacute. Petals obliquely oblong, 1.3 cm long, apex subapiculate. Lip 3-lobed below the middle, 0.9 cm long, glabrous, with a thickened basal keel extending to the middle; lateral lobes subfalcate, obliquely oblong, obtuse; midlobe much larger, broadly rounded-cuneate, apex subretuse. Column short, clinandrium obtusely 3-lobulate; column-foot elongated, broad, near the apex with a low glabrous bilobed callus. Anther subquadrate-cucullate, in front truncate.
(after Schlechter, 1905).
Colours: Flower light yellow, the lip with red margins and black-red lateral lobes.
Habitat: Epiphyte in hill forest. Altitude 600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July.
Distribution: Bismarck Archipelago (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (New Ireland).
Map: OCHRAMAP.JPG [Dendrobium ochranthum Schltr., distribution map.]
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.