Dendrobium coloratum J.J.Sm., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 12 (1913) 113; Nova Guinea 12, 4 (1916) 306, t. 111, fig. 199.
Type: Kock, de 183 (holo BO).
Stems elongated, in cross-section elliptic, flexuose, 30 cm by 3.7 mm, internodes 1.7-2.5 cm long. Leaves sheaths weakly longitudinally ribbed, with a short tooth opposite the leaf-blade. Leaves erect-patent, at the base twisted so as to lie in one plane, lanceolate, 6.75-8 by 2.1-'1.25' (2.25?) cm, apex long acuminate, deeply somewhat unequally obtusely bilobulate. Inflorescences lateral from the stems, very short, 2-flowered. Pedicel and ovary 0.5 cm long. Flowers c. 2 cm across. Dorsal sepal 1.35 cm by 3.5 mm; mentum 0.38 cm long, truncate. Petals 1.2 cm by 2.7 mm. Lip 3-lobed, mobile, when flattened 0.7 by 0.68 cm, with a high wing-like median keel, on either side of the keel with a row of spine-like processes, on the lateral lobes inside with irregular, curved lamellae, on the midlobe, except along the margins, densely muricate. Column 0.4 cm long, column-foot 0.34 cm long, at the apex with a small cavity.
(after Smith, 1916).
Colours: Flower carmine red.
Habitat: Epiphyte on smooth tree trunks in rainforest. Altitude 150 m.
Flowering time in the wild: April.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Jaya Wijaya Regency).
Map: COLORMAP.JPG [Dendrobium coloratum J.J.Sm., distribution map.]
Notes: Dendrobium coloratum belongs in the affinity of Dendrobium multistriatum.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.