Dendrobium quinquecaudatum J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14 (1929) 411, pl. 62, 62 (nom. nov.).
Basionym: Dendrobium acuminatissimum var. latifolium.
Stems terete, up to more than 100 cm by 36 mm, internodes 0.7-2.75 cm long, the upper ones very short. Leaf sheaths tubular, as long as or longer than the internodes, opposite the leaf-blade provided with a tooth, transversely rugose-verrucose, especially in upper part. Leaves linear, gradually tapering towards the apex, 7.5-11 by 0.83-1.1 cm, rigidly coriaceous when dried, rather indistinctly keeled below, base rounded, apex unequally narrowly deeply bidentate. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem; peduncle 1.1 cm long, compressed, spathe laterally compressed, 0.85 cm long. Pedicel 1.3 cm long; ovary 0.33 cm long. Flowers c. 6 cm across, thin-textured. Dorsal sepal linear-caudate, 3.9 cm by 5.3 mm, outside verrucose. Lateral sepals linear-caudate, 3.9 cm by 8.5 mm wide at the base mm, mentum 0.63 cm long. Petals linear-caudate, 3.5 cm by 3.5 mm, margins incurved in apical part, apex filiform. Lip 3-lobed near the middle, 1.5 by 0.87 cm, with a strong basal keel extending to the base of the midlobe, inside in basal half with sparse long hairs, the midlobe inside long-hairy; lateral lobes narrowly triangular, falcate, front margin crenulate; midlobe subovate, 0.7 by 0.65 cm, margins deeply laciniate, the laciniae linear and partly branched and crenulate, apex subulate-acuminate. Column conical, 0.33 cm long, clinandrium with dentate lateral lobules; column-foot at right angles to the ovary, 0.63 cm long, with two grooves at the apex.
(after Smith, 1911).
Colours: Flower white, on the mentum with a purple spot.
Habitat: Epiphyte in coastal lowland forest. Altitude 10 m.
Flowering time in the wild: August.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Jayapura Regency).
Map: QUICAMAP.JPG [Dendrobium quinquecaudatum J.J.Sm., distribution map.]
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.