Dendrobium quinquedentatum J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 19; Nova Guinea 8, 1 (1909) 76, t. 26, fig. 83.
Type: Versteeg 1316 (holo BO 2x; iso L).
Stems elongated, slender, elliptic in cross-section, to 60 cm by 1-1.5 mm, many-leaved, internodes 1-1.5 cm long. Leaf sheaths tubular, a little longer than the internodes, when dry with densely verruculose ribs. Leaves erect-patent, small, lanceolate, 2-4.5 by 0.3-0.7 cm, base half-twisted, apex unequally acutely bidentate. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem, very short; peduncle 0.3 cm long, (2)-flowered, spathe laterally compressed. Ovary 0.35 cm long, 6-grooved. Flowers c. 2 cm across, thin-textured. Dorsal sepal linear-triangular, 1.2 cm by 2.6 mm, 5-nerved, apex acute. Lateral sepals obliquely linear-triangular, weakly falcate, 1.2 cm by 5.6 mm, apex acuminate; 5-nerved; mentum incurved, 0.46 cm long, obtuse. Petals linear, subfalcate, 1.2 cm by 0.8 mm, 3-nerved, apex sharply acute. Lip 3-lobed in apical third, 1.2 by 0.4 cm, inside pubescent, with a glabrous basal keel extending to the base of the midlobe, on the midlobe with c. 1.5 mm long hairs; lateral lobes erect, minute, 0.5 mm long, triangular, porrect, much surpassing the column; midlobe decurved, triangular, 0.5 by 0.2 cm, apex slender subulate-acuminate. Column straight, 0.24 cm long, clinandrium deeply acutely 5-dentate, the median tooth shorter than the laterals; stigma large, transversely trapeziform; rostellum absent; column-foot at an acute angle to the ovary, 0.5 cm long, incurved, with a small longitudinal keel, truncate. Anther cucullate, truncate. Pollinia oblong.
(after Smith, 1909).
Colours: Sepals and petals yellowish white, lip in basal part pale rose-red and with very narrow purple margins, column at base marked with orange.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude to at least 375 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June, October.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Merauke Regency: Lorentz River area); Papua New Guinea (Oro Province).
Map: QUIDEMAP.JPG [Dendrobium quinquedentatum J.J.Sm., distribution map.]
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.