Dendrobium subsessile Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 571; 21 (1923) t. 191, fig. 717.
Type: Schlechter 16735 (holo B, lost; iso AD, BO, E, G, K, L 3x, MO, NSW, S).
Rhizome short, stem-like, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, minutely papillose-hairy. Stems, pendulous, up to 60 cm long, very densely many-leaved, often sparsely branched. Leaf sheaths entirely covering the stem. Leaves bilaterally flattened, subfalcate-lanceolate, 2-3.5 by 0.45-0.6 cm, apex acute, coriaceous. Inflorescences lateral from the stems or terminal, often clustered, appearing in succession, short, usually 1-flowered, peduncle-scales densely overlapping. Floral bracts ovate, much longer than the ovary, apex acuminate. Ovary 0.25 cm long, obconical-obconical, glabrous. Flowers c. 1 cm long. Dorsal sepal oblong-ovate, 0.6 cm long, apex apiculate. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong-ovate, widened at the base, 0.6 cm long, apex subcuspidate; mentum 0.45 cm long, obtuse. Petals obliquely ligulate, slightly widened to the base, c. 0.4 cm long, apex subcuspidate-apiculate. Lip oblong, slightly narrowed to the base, 0.7 by 0.4 cm, glabrous, with an oblong-ligulate shining median patch which is slightly channelled-concave towards the apex; margins near the apex incurved, apex apiculate. Column short, thick, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules rounded, the median much longer, linear; column-foot 0.45 cm long. Anther quadrate-cucullate, in front truncate, glabrous.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Flower deep carmine-red.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: October.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Madang Province: Kani Mountains).
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.