Dendrobium coeloglossum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 479; 21 (1923) t. 162, fig. 607.
Type: Schlechter 19910 (holo B, lost).
Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Pseudobulbs crowded, 1- (or 2-) leaved, clavate, usually 4- or 5-angled, strongly narrowing to the base, 6.5-11 by 1-1.5 cm, covered with cataphylls that soon decay; shiny. Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, 7-12 by 2-2.7 cm, apex subacute to acute, subcoriaceous. Inflorescences arising near the apex of the pseudobulb, 1-flowered; peduncle very short. Floral bract minute, deltoid. Pedicel and ovary 1.5 cm long, cylindrical, curved, glabrous. Flower resupinated, c. 5 cm wide. Dorsal sepal oblong, 2.6 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong, slightly widened to the base, 2.6 cm long, apex obtuse; keeled outside; mentum 5 mm long, obtuse. Petals obliquely oblong-spathulate, 2.6 cm long, apex subacute. Lip broadly rhombic when flattened, weakly 3-lobed, concave, 2.3 by 2.8 cm, at the base with an oblong-quadrangular apiculate scale, in front of this with two diverging obliquely 3-dentate lamellae, in addition both in the middle and near the apex with a row of 5 short parallel keels; apex subcuspidate-apiculate. Column short. Anther rectangular-cucullate, in front truncate, apex pubescent.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Sepals and petals whitish yellow, lip sulphur yellow, in front with a brown median keel.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest. Altitude 0 to 400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, March, June.
Distribution: ?Sulawesi, New Guinea.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Jayapura Regency); Papua New Guinea (Morobe Province).
Notes: A specimen cultivated in the Bogor Botanical Garden, Java, was said to originate from Sulawesi.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.