Dendrobium cultrifolium Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 16 (1919) 111.
Type: Kempf s.n. (Kaiser Wilhelmsland, border between German- and English New Guinea, Waria area) (holo B, lost).
Rhizome very short. Stems laterally compressed, in basal part covered with sheaths only, leafy to above the middle, 70 cm by 7 mm. Leaves suberect, laterally compressed, narrowly lanceolate, 9 by 1 cm, carnose, apex acute. Inflorescences laterally in fascicles from the leafless upper part of the stems. Pedicel and ovary 1.5 cm long. Flowers c. 2.5 cm long. Dorsal sepal oblong, 0.8 cm long, apex narrowly obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely triangular, 0.8 cm long, apex obtusely apiculate; mentum lightly curved, oblong, c. 2 cm long, narrowly obtuse. Petals obliquely oblong, a little dilated in the middle, about as long as the sepals. Lip cuneate, lightly curved, near the apex weakly, obtusely 4-lobulate and there with lightly undulate margins, 2 by 1 cm, below the middle with 3 slightly thickened veins. Column short; column-foot concave, 2 cm long, inside at the apex with a verruculose ridge.
(after Schlechter, 1919).
Colours: Not known.
Habitat: Not recorded.
Flowering time in the wild: Not known.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Morobe Province).
Notes: Dendrobium cultrifolium is at present only known from the original description, and appears to be closely related to Dendrobium goldfinchii and Dendrobium hymenocentrum.
Cultivation: Epiphyte (requirements not known).