Dendrobium subelobatum J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14 (1929) 414, pl. 63, 67.
Type: Feuilletau de Bruyn 105 (holo L).
Rhizome short. Stems crowded, elongated, in cross-section thickly elliptic, 65 cm by 2.6 mm, internodes to 1.5-1.9 cm long. Leaf sheaths at the apex with a quadrangular, truncate, rugulose, 2.5-3 mm long tooth opposite the leaf-blade. Leaves erect-patent, lanceolate, 3.75-6 by 0.75-1.3 cm, rigidly papyraceous-coriaceous, apex unequally obtusely bidentate. Inflorescences laterally from the stems, very short (probably 2-flowered). Pedicel and ovary 0.54 cm long. Flowers c. 1.5 cm across. Dorsal sepal 1.1 cm by 4.4 mm. Lateral sepals 0.9 cm by 5.5 mm, mentum c. 0.4 cm long. Petals 0.88 cm by 3 mm. Lip 3-lobed, when flattened 0.48 by 0.27 cm; midlobe 0.24 by 0.26 cm. Column 0.17 cm long; column-foot 0.4 cm long.
(after Smith, 1929).
Colours: Flower white, leaves red-brown.
Habitat: Epiphyte in rainforest. Altitude 400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Idenburg River).
Map: SUBELMAP.JPG [Dendrobium subelobatum J.J.Sm., distribution map.]
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.