Dendrobium papyraceum J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12 (1913) 113; Nova Guinea 12, 4 (1916) 312, t. 113, fig. 206.
Type: Bogor cult. (Branderhorst) 257 b (holo BO).
Stems crowded, erect, rigid, in cross-section elliptic, towards the apex more compressed and dilated, 40 cm long, in basal part 3.3 mm, in upper part 5.8 mm wide, internodes 1.5-3 cm long. Leaf sheaths 0.65 cm, much longer than the internodes, opposite the leaf blade with a triangular tooth. Leaves lanceolate, 5.5 by 1.25-3.2 cm, papyraceous, apex unequally obtusely to acutely bidentate. Inflorescences laterally from the stems, very short, (probably 2-flowered,) spathe 0.3 cm long. Pedicel 0.8 cm long; ovary 0.25 cm long. Flowers c. 1.8 cm across. Dorsal sepal 1.2 cm by 6.5 mm; mentum 0.63 cm long, obtuse. Petals 1.28 cm by 6.4 mm. Lip 3-lobed, when flattened 0.97 by 0.8 cm; midlobe 0.4 by 0.57 cm. Column 0.5 cm long; column-foot 0.53 cm long.
(after Smith, 1916).
Colours: Sepals and petals pale yellow, white at the base, lip pale yellow, lateral lobes white, at apex violet, inside with short transverse violet stripes, midlobe white in the centre, with narrow violet margins, keel pale orange.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland rainforest.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Manokwari Regency: Eilanden River).
Map: PAPYRMAP.JPG [Dendrobium papyraceum J.J.Sm., distribution map.]
Notes: Dendrobium papyraceum appears to be related to Dendrobium ochranthum.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.