Dendrobium dionaeoides J.J.Sm., Meded. Rijks-Herb. 23 (1915) 9; Nova Guinea 12, 4 (1916) 304, t. 111, fig. 198.
Type: Janowsky 406 (holo BO; iso L).
Stems elongated, slender, in cross-section elliptic, 150 cm by 1.5-2.3 mm, internodes 1-3.7 cm long. Leaf sheaths opposite the leaf blade provided with a large conduplicate triangular tooth. Leaves linear, grass-like, gradually narrowing to the apex, 4.7-8 by 0.37-0.6 cm, apex strongly unequally narrowly obtusely bidentate. Inflorescences lateral from the stems; peduncle 0.8-0.9 cm long, 2-flowered, spathe c. 0.8 cm long. Pedicel and ovary 1.2 cm long. Flowers c. 5 cm across. Dorsal sepal 3.25 cm by 3.5 mm; mentum 0.4 cm long, broadly obtuse. Petals 2.9 cm by 1.3 mm. Lip 3-lobed, hinged to the column-foot through a short elastic membrane, when flattened 1 by 0.4 cm, with a conspicuous basal keel, on either side of the keel and on the lateral lobes with a few spine-like appendages, on the midlobe along the veins with long filiform appendages; lateral lobes triangular, margins minutely denticulate; margins of midlobe long patent filiform-fimbriate. Column 0.35 cm long; column-foot 0.45 cm long, in the middle with a transverse papillose band, near the apex with a large transverse callus which is divided into two parts by a longitudinal groove.
(after Smith, 1916).
Colours: Flower creamy white, at the base of the sepals and petals violet, lip at the base with blackish violet margins.
Habitat: Not recorded.
Flowering time in the wild: June.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Nabire Regency).
Map: DIONAMAP.JPG [Dendrobium dionaeoides J.J.Sm., distribution map.]
Notes: Dendrobium dionaeoides belongs in the affinity of Dendrobium acuminatissimum.
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.