Dendrobium convexipes J.J.Sm., Nova Guinea 14 (1929) 438, pl. 69, 85.
Type: Lam 1423 (holo L); para: Lam 1424 (L).
Stems crowded, elongated, flexuose, 47 cm long, internodes to 2.5 cm long. Leaf sheaths with truncate apex that is incised in front, slightly verruculose. Leaves patent, twisted at the base so as to lie in one plane, narrowly subovate-lanceolate, 5.6 by 0.78 cm, coriaceous-papyraceous, apex acute to narrowly obtuse, mostly with a long subulate apicule. Inflorescences lateral from leafy and defoliated stems, racemose, 0.8 cm long, 3-5-flowered. Floral bracts ovate, apex acuminate. Pedicel and ovary 2.2 cm long, clavate, rounded triangular in cross-section, slightly sigmoid. Flowers c. 2.3 cm long. Dorsal sepal 0.6 cm by 3.6 mm; mentum narrowly conical, 1.5 cm long. Petals 0.65 cm by 1.6 mm, apical margins papillose-ciliolate. Lip when flattened 1.4 by 0.72 cm, claw for c. 0.4 cm adnate to the column-foot, apex cucullate, 5-7-plicate, in the middle pectinate-dentate, the teeth decreasing in size outwards. Column 0.28 cm long; column-foot 1.5 cm long, with a covering membrane which is excised at the apex and produced into a triangular tooth.
(after Smith, 1929).
Colours: Flower lilac, lip with a lighter apex. Leaves and sheaths shining dark green-violet, more green and dull beneath.
Habitat: Epiphyte in low, mossy, Vaccinium-dominated montane forest. Altitude 1400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: September.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Jaya Wijaya Regency).
Notes: Dendrobium convexipes should be compared with Dendrobium brevilabium, Dendrobium tubiflorum, and Dendrobium cuculliferum, all with the lip clearly shorter than the column.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte, keep in shade.