Dendrobium pleurodes Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 485; 21 (1923) t. 163, fig. 610.
Type: Schlechter 19580 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BM, BO, G, K, L, MO, NSW, S).
A slender epiphytic herb. Pseudobulbs clustered, slenderly clavate, 3-5-noded below leaf, 8-30 by 0.3-0.6 cm, 1-leafed at apex. Leaf suberect, coriaceous, linear or linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 7-15 by 0.5-1 cm. Inflorescence very short, 1-2-flowered, about 1-1.5 cm long. Flowers small. Dorsal sepal oblong-elliptic, rounded at apex, 6.5 by 4.5 mm; lateral sepals obliquely ovate-elliptic, apiculate, 5 by 6.5 mm; mentum subsaccate, 6 mm long. Petals falcate, linear, acute, 5-5.5 by 0.5 mm. Lip narrowly clawed, reflexed and 3-lobed above, 6 by 13 mm; side-lobes spreading, oblong; midlobe much smaller than side-lobes, semicircular; callus porrect, fleshy, free for apical 2 mm, with a 3-lobed apex, with side-lobes longer than midlobe. Column 2 mm long; foot incurved, 6 mm long.
(after Cribb, 1983).
Colours: Flowers greenish with white petals, a brown lip and white callus.
Habitat: Epiphyte in montane forest; 1200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May.
Distribution: New Guinea.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Morobe Province).
Map: PLEURMAP.JPG [Dendrobium pleurodes Schltr., distribution map, redrawn from P. Cribb, Kew Bull. 38 (1983) 289, map 7.]
Notes: Dendrobium pleurodes is a most distinctive species which is known only from the type collection. In habit it resembles species of Cadetia with its one-leaved pseudobulbs and very short inflorescence, except that the stem consists of several internodes, unlike in Cadetia. However, florally it agrees well with Dendrobium aberrans and Dendrobium dendrocolloides, differing in its lip shape as given in the description and in its callus which is free at the apex.
(after Cribb, 1983).
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.