Dendrobium njongense Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 610; 21 (1928) t. 205, fig. 774.
Type: Schlechter 18127 (holo B, lost); para: Schlechter 18965 (B, lost).
Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, patent, unbranched, slender, 65 cm by 2.5 mm, densely many-leaved. Leaf sheaths 0.25 cm wide, entirely covering the stem. Leaves erect-patent, lanceolate, 4-6 by 0.65-1 cm, apex acute. Inflorescences arising seemingly from the leaf axils, subsessile, 2-flowered; spathe laterally compressed, oblong, obtuse. Pedicel and ovary 1.4 cm long, glabrous. Flowers c. 2 cm across. Dorsal sepal oblong, 1.2 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong, widened at the base, 1.2 cm long, apex obtuse; mentum 0.4 cm long, obtuse. Petals (ex icon.) obliquely obovate-subspathulate, apex obtuse. Lip 3-lobed below the middle, 1 by 0.4 across lateral lobes, 0.7 cm wide across midlobe cm, oblong at the base, with a basal keel extending to beyond the middle; lateral lobes minute, tooth-like, triangular, acute; midlobe subreniform-orbicular. Column short, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules triangular, the median small, tooth-like; column-foot incurved, 0.4 cm long.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Flower white, the lip with yellow lateral lobes, the column-foot with red markings and an orange-yellow spot.
Habitat: Epiphyte in hill forest. Altitude 500-600 m.
Flowering time in the wild: August, December.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Madang Province).
Map: NJONGMAP.JPG [Dendrobium njongense Schltr., distribution map.]
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.