Dendrobium pulvinatum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 597; 21 (1928) t. 200, fig. 754.
Type: Schlechter 19168 (holo B, lost).
Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, erect, unbranched, c. 50 cm long, many-leaved. Leaf sheaths entirely covering the stem. Leaves erect-patent, oblong-ligulate, 4-9 by 1.3-2.3 cm, apex unequally bilobulate, coriaceous. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem; peduncle 1 cm long, 2-flowered; spathe semiorbicular, short, laterally compressed. Pedicel and ovary 1.5 cm long, cylindrical, glabrous. Flowers c. 5 cm wide. Dorsal sepal ligulate, 2.5 cm long, glabrous, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals falcate, a little widened at the base, 2.5 cm long, apex obtuse; mentum short, obtuse. Petals obliquely falcate-ligulate, a little shorter than the sepals, apex obtuse. Lip 3-lobed in the middle, 0.8 by 0.7 cm, cuneate at the base, in basal part warty-papillose inside, with a linear basal keel extending to and becoming narrower towards the base of the midlobe, the midlobe in the centre with a large cushion-like patch of papillae; lateral lobes obliquely oblong, obtuse; midlobe twice as long, ovate, acuminate. Column short, rather thick, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules rounded, the median lobule a little shorter, triangular; column-foot concave. Anther rounded-cucullate, in front subretuse.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Flowers light yellow, the lip with small violet warts and papillae and with an orange-red keel; column-foot with an orange-red spot.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1200 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Madang Province: Finisterre Mountains).
Map: PULTUMAP.JPG [Dendrobium pulvinatum Schltr., distribution map.]
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.