Dendrobium podochiloides Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 611; 21 (1928) t. 206, fig. 775.
Type: Schlechter 17738 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BO, L "17638").
Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, patent, unbranched, subterete, slender, 40-50 cm by 2 mm, densely many-leaved. Leaf sheaths 0.2 cm wide, entirely covering the stem. Leaves erect-patent, lanceolate, 3.5-5 by 0.65-0.8 cm, apex obliquely acute. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem, subsessile, 2-flowered; spathe laterally compressed, semiorbicular, obtuse. Pedicel and ovary 1.2 cm long, glabrous. Flowers c. 1 cm across. Dorsal sepal ovate, 0.9 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely ovate, a little widened at the base, 0.9 cm long, apex obtuse; mentum 0.3 cm long, obtuse. Petals elliptic-spathulate, subfalcate, apex obtuse. Lip 3-lobed above the middle, 0.7 by 0.45 cm, cuneate at the base, with a basal keel extending to the middle of the midlobe, on either side with thickened warty diverging nerves; lateral lobes short, rounded; midlobe obreniform, broadly apiculate. Column short, rather thick, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules truncate, denticulate, the median small, tooth-like; column-foot incurved, 0.3 cm long. Anther rounded-cucullate, in front subretuse, glabrous.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Flower white, outside tinged red, the lip with yellow keel and violet-red raised veins.
Habitat: Epiphyte on tall trees in lower montane forest. Altitude 800 m.
Flowering time in the wild: May.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Madang Province: Kani Mountains).
Map: PODCHMAP.JPG [Dendrobium podochiloides Schltr., distribution map.]
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.