Dendrobium appendicula Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 639; 21 (1928) t. 215, fig. 813.
Type: Schlechter 18137 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BO, D, G, L, NSW).
Rhizome short, decumbent, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems erect to ascending, not or sparsely branched, 10-25 cm by 1.5 mm, densely many-leaved. Leaf sheaths 0.15 cm wide, entirely covering the stem. Leaves patent to erect-patent, linear, 1.2-2.3 by 0.17-0.27 cm, apex unequally obtusely bilobulate, subcarnose, shiny. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem, 1-flowered, sessile. Pedicel and ovary 0.5 cm long, glabrous. Flower not resupinated, c. 0.7 cm long. Dorsal sepal oblong-ligulate, 0.5 cm long, apex subacute. Lateral sepals falcate, obliquely oblong-ligulate, sublobate-widened at the base, 0.5 cm long, front margins coherent, apex subacute; mentum sac-like, oblongoid, 0.2 cm long, obtuse. Petals subfalcate-ligulate, somewhat widened in apical half, apex subacute. Lip 3-lobed near the apex, from the ligulate claw gradually widened to the apex, 0.5 by 0.25 cm, in the centre and on the claw pilose, with two broad lamellae extending from the basal third to a little beyond the base of the midlobe; lateral lobes obliquely triangular, obtuse; midlobe distinctly larger, ovate, obtusely subapiculate. Column short, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules rounded, the median slightly longer, triangular; column-foot ligulate, apex incurved, 0.2 cm long.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Flower white, lip with red markings.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 900 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Madang Province: Finisterre Mountains).
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.