Dendrobium planicaule Ridl., Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot. 9 (1916) 168.
Type: Kloss s.n. (Camp 6b, 3900 ft); s.n. (Camp 6c, 5500 ft.) (syn BM).
Stems stout, laterally flattened, to more than 30 cm by 4 mm. Leaf sheaths 1 by 0.4 cm, ribbed, laterally flattened. Leaves oblong-linear, 4 by 1 cm, coriaceous, with three prominent veins on underside, apex unequally bilobulate, lobules rounded. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem, 1-flowered. Floral bract small, lanceolate, apex obtuse. Pedicel and ovary 0.5 cm long. Flower c. 1.5 cm across. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, 1 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals broader, ovate-lanceolate, 1 cm by 4 mm, carnose, apex acute; mentum rounded, obtuse. Petals ovate, 0.9 cm by 4 mm, apex subacute. Lip linguiform, ovate-lanceolate, 0.6 cm long, lateral margins curved upwards, apex obtuse, decurved, very fleshy. Column short, not winged, margins of clinandrium hardly raised; column-foot short. Anther conical, in front extended into an oblong, rounded, flattened process. Pollinia in two minute, hemispherical masses.
(after Ridley, 1916).
Colours: Not recorded.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest. Altitude 1200-1700 m.
Flowering time in the wild: February.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Timika Mimika Regency).
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.