Dendrobium melinanthum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 517; 21 (1923) t. 175, fig. 654.
Type: Schlechter 18240 (holo B, lost).
Rhizome short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, patent, slender, up to 50 cm long, densely many-leaved; not or sparsely branched. Leaf sheaths entirely covering the stem. Leaves erect-patent, elliptic-lanceolate, 4.5-5 by 1.2-1.5 cm, apex acute. Inflorescences racemose, short, densely several-flowered. Floral bracts ovate, much shorter than the pedicel and ovary, apex apiculate. Pedicel and ovary 2 cm long, slender, glabrous. Flowers resupinated or not, c. 1.5 cm long. Dorsal sepal elliptic, 0.7 cm long, apex obtuse to apiculate. Lateral sepals obliquely elliptic, much widened at the base, 0.7 cm long, apex obtuse to apiculate; mentum conical, 1 cm long, obtuse. Petals obliquely elliptic-subspathulate, 0.7 cm long, apex apiculate. Lip concave, with a ligulate claw, in outline cuneate in upper half, 1.3 by 0.55 cm, apical margin pectinate-serrulate, slightly plicate, apex hood-like, truncate. Column short; column-foot linear, 1 cm long, at the apex with an elliptic cavity, in lower half adnate to the margins of the lip. Anther quadrate-cucullate, retuse at the back, in front truncate and papillose.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Flowers vermilion.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1200 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.