Dendrobium xylophyllum Kraenzl., in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 50. II. B. 21 (1910) 191.
Type: Copeland King s.n. (Cape Frere) (holo B, lost).
Stems curved, stiff, leafy, 20 cm long. Leaf sheaths 1.2 cm long, rugose. Leaves ovate to oblong, 4 by 1.2-1.8 cm, very thick, rigid, apex bilobulate, rounded. Inflorescences fascicled, several appearing in succession from the same point, short. Flowers c. 4 cm across. Dorsal sepal linear, 2.3 cm by 2 mm, apex acuminate. Lateral sepals linear, slightly falcate, 2.3 cm by 2 mm, apex acuminate; mentum short, rounded. Petals linear, slightly falcate, 2 cm by 2 mm, apex acuminate. Lip 3-lobed, in outline rhombic, upper half strongly deflexed, 0.8 by 0.8 cm, disc furfuraceous, covered with long papillae, with a median basal, entire lamella extending to past the middle; lateral lobes triangular, acute; midlobe equally large, triangular, margins denticulate, apex acuminate. Column with entire clinandrium, filament linear, stigma large, with two raised lines from the base to the middle.
(after Kraenzlin, 1910).
Colours: Flowers yellow.
Habitat: Not known. Probably in the lowlands.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Milne Bay Province: Cape Frere).
Map: XYLOPMAP.JPG [Dendrobium xylophyllum Kraenzl., distribution map.]
Notes: It is unclear if Dendrobium xylophyllum is a member of section Grastidium, although this is suggested from the description of the flowers, which together with that of the habit is vaguely reminiscent of Dendrobium insigne. On the other hand, if Kraenzlin's description of the inflorescences is accurate, section Pleianthe seems more appropriate, but it may not even be a species of Dendrobium.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.