Dendrobium densifolium Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 596; 21 (1928) t. 200, fig. 751.
Type: Schlechter 19955 (holo B, lost; iso L).
Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, erect, straight, terete, 50-60 cm by 10 mm, very densely many-leaved, unbranched. Leaf sheaths entirely covering the stem. Leaves erect-patent, elliptic, 5-8 by 2.5-3.5 cm, apex unequally and obtusely bilobulate, stiff. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem; peduncle 1 cm long, 2-flowered, spathe short, laterally compressed, obtuse. Pedicel and ovary 1.3 cm long, glabrous. Flowers c. 4 cm across. Dorsal sepal oblong-ligulate, 2.2 cm long, apex subacute. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong-ligulate, a little widened at the base, 2.2 cm long, apex subacute; mentum short, obtuse. Petals falcate-oblique, oblong-ligulate, a little shorter than the sepals, apex subacute. Lip 3-lobed above the middle, 0.8 by 0.7 cm, cuneate at the base, in basal half densely rugulose, with an acute linear basal callus which has a parallel row of warts on either side and which extends to the base of the midlobe, on the midlobe with tooth-like, more or less backwards pointing papillae; lateral lobes triangular, interior margins subdentate, apex obtuse; midlobe more than twice as long, ovate, margins densely undulate-crenulate, apex subacute. Column short, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules rounded-truncate, the median slightly longer, triangular; column-foot short, nearly straight, concave. Anther almost helmet-shaped, in front subretuse.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Sepals and petals whitish yellow, lip sulphur-yellow with brown markings and an orange-red keel, column whitish with an orange-red spot at the apex of the column-foot.
Habitat: Epiphyte in beach forest. Altitude 30 m.
Flowering time in the wild: July.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Morobe Province: Waria River).
Map: DENFOMAP.JPG [Dendrobium densifolium Schltr., distribution map.]
Notes: Probably conspecific with Dendrobium pruinosum.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.