Dendrobium malacanthum Kraenzl., in Engl., Pflanzenr. IV. 50. II. B. 21 (1910) 194, fig. 14 f-g.
Type: Sayer s.n. (New Guinea, Bourawari, 780 m) (holo HBG).
Stems pendulous, rather weak, lightly flexuose in upper part, 40-45 cm long. Leaf sheaths 2.5-3.5 cm long. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, 6-9 by 2 cm, thin papyraceous, apex acuminate, bilobulate. Inflorescences arising laterally from the middle and upper part of the stem, probably 2-flowered, spathe very short, shell-shaped. Flowers c. 4 cm across. Dorsal sepal ligulate, 2.2 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals falcate, ligulate, 2.5 cm by 3.5-4 mm, apex obtuse; mentum very short, rounded. Petals less curved than the sepals, ligulate, 2.2 cm long, apex obtuse. Lip 3-lobed below the middle, deflexed, ovate, with a short basal claw, 0.7-0.8 by 0.3 cm, inside on the disc minutely furfuraceous, with a low thickened median line extending from just above the base to near the middle; lateral lobes indistinct, acute; midlobe broadly triangular, acute.
(after Kraenzlin, 1910).
Colours: Flowers dirty pink.
Habitat: Epiphyte on Ficus. Altitude 780 m.
Flowering time in the wild: Not recorded.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Bourawari).
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.