Dendrobium obovatum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 627; 21 (1928) t. 211, fig. 795.
Type: Schlechter 16656 (holo B, lost; iso AD, AMES, BO, E, G, K, L, MO, NSW).
Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, slightly laterally compressed, unbranched, slender, 15-25 cm long, densely many-leaved. Leaf sheaths entirely covering the stem, lined with few slightly raised veins. Leaves linear to linear-ligulate, at least twice as long as the internodes, 1.3-2.5 by 0.17-0.25 cm, apex unequally and obtusely bilobulate. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem, 1-flowered, sessile. Pedicel and ovary 0.25 cm long, glabrous. Flower not resupinated, c. 0.7 cm across. Dorsal sepal oblong, 0.5 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong, gradually widened to the base, 0.5 cm long, apex obtuse; mentum 0.35 cm long, obtuse. Petals obliquely linear, a little shorter than the sepals, apex broadly obtuse. Lip 3-lobed above the middle, 0.5 by 0.275 cm, hypochile obovate, a little more than half as long as the lip, 0.25 cm wide, with a small basal callus, lateral lobes small; epichile large, broadly quadrangular, subretuse. Column short, clinandrium with small lateral lobules, median lobule hardly developed; column-foot broad, 0.35 cm long, concave.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Sepals and petals yellow, lip brown.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1000-1300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: October, November.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Madang Province: Kani Mountains; Eastern Highlands Province).
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.