Dendrobium brunnescens Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 601; 21 (1928) t. 202, fig. 760.
Type: Schlechter 19890 (holo B, lost).
Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, erect, subterete, unbranched, 35-40 cm by 3 mm, densely many-leaved. Leaf sheaths entirely covering the stem. Leaves erect-patent to patent, elliptic-lanceolate, 3-4 by 1-1.3 cm, apex subacute. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem, subsessile, 2-flowered, spathe oblong, laterally compressed, obtuse. Pedicel and ovary 0.7 cm long, slender, glabrous. Flowers c. 2 cm across. Dorsal sepal oblong, 1.3 cm long, apex long acuminate. Lateral sepals falcate, widened at the base, 1.3 cm long, apex long acuminate; mentum 3.5 mm long, obtuse. Petals obliquely lanceolate, a little shorter than the sepals, apex long acuminate. Lip 3-lobed above the middle, 1.2 by 0.4 cm, in basal half minutely pubescent, with a basal keel extending to below the middle, the midlobe densely covered with backwards-pointing subulate appendages; lateral lobes small, rounded; midlobe ovate-lanceolate, basal margin pectinate-lacerate, apex long acuminate. Column short, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules rounded, the median slightly longer, 3-lobulate; column-foot oblong, 3.5 mm long, near the apex with two calli. Anther subreniform-cucullate, in front minutely papillose, subtruncate.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Flower brownish, the lip with red-brown lateral lobes, column white, the foot at the apex with an orange-yellow spot.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Morobe Province: Maboro Mountains).
Notes: Closely related to Dendrobium quinquedentatum J.J.Sm., mainly differing in the broader leaves and the flower colour.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.