Dendrobium potamophilum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 600; 21 (1928) t. 201, fig. 758.
Type: Schlechter 16482 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BO, G, L, NSW, NY).
Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, erect, unbranched, 20-25 cm long, many-leaved. Leaf sheaths entirely covering the stem. Leaves erect-patent, oblong-ligulate, 4-7 by 1-1.8 cm, apex obtusely and unequally bilobulate. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem, peduncle very short, 2-flowered; spathe short, laterally compressed, obtuse. Pedicel and ovary 0.8 cm long, glabrous. Flowers c. 2.5 cm across. Dorsal sepal oblong-ligulate, 1.4 cm long, glabrous, apex subacute. Lateral sepals falcate, a little widened at the base, 1.4 cm long, apex subacute; mentum short, obtuse. Petals subfalcate-ligulate, slightly widened to the apex, a little shorter than the sepals, apex obtuse. Lip 3-lobed in the middle, 0.7 by 0.6 cm, in basal half with sparse wart-like papillae, with a median strip of papillae extending from the base of the lip to below the apex of the midlobe; lateral lobes falcate-oblong, interior margin denticulate, apex obtuse; midlobe slightly longer, broadly ovate, margin incised-dentate, apex apiculate. Column short, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lobules rounded; column-foot concave. Anther rounded-cucullate, in front truncate.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Flower white, lip with yellow papillae.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 200-300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Madang Province: Minjem River).
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.