Dendrobium parvifolium J.J.Sm., in L.S.Gibbs, Phytogeogr. Fl. Arfak Mountains. (1917) 121.
Type: Gibbs 5547 (holo BM).
Stems slender, branching, internodes 0.6-'0.3' (1.3?) cm long. Leaves oblong-ovate, 1.1 by 0.4 cm, rigid, margins minutely erose, especially towards the apex, apex acute. Inflorescences lateral, 1-flowered, peduncle-scales tubular, verruculose. Floral bract cucullate, 0.3 cm long, apex apiculate. Pedicel and ovary 2.1 cm long, subclavate. Flower 1.8 cm long. Dorsal sepal ovate, 0.75 cm by 4 mm, apex narrowly obtuse. Lateral sepals falcate-triangular; mentum conical, 1.25 cm long, obtuse. Petals lanceolate, 0.7 cm by 2.3 mm, margins minutely erose in apical half, apex obtuse. Lip spathulate, 1.4 by when flattened 0.84 cm, without a callus, apex cucullate, serrate-fimbriate. Column 0.28 cm long.
(after Smith, 1917).
Colours: Flower red.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 2100-2400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: December.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Manokwari Regency: Arfak Mountains).
Notes: Dendrobium parvifolium, as the name indicates, has very small leaves, like the closely related Dendrobium lamii and Dendrobium dillonianum. It is a member of the Calyptrochilus group.
Cultivation: Cool growing epiphyte.