Dendrobium neuroglossum Schltr., in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 170; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1928) t. 199, fig. 750.
Type: Schlechter 13981 (holo B, lost).
Rhizome very short, roots elongated, thickened-filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, pendulous, terete, flexuose, 60-70 cm by 8 mm, laxly many-leaved. Leaf sheaths entirely covering the stem. Leaves patent to erect-patent, oblong, 7-9 by 3-4 cm, apex acute to acuminate, chartaceous. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem, 2-flowered, spathe laterally compressed. Floral bracts minute, shorter than the ovary, apex acuminate. Ovary 0.6-0.7 cm long, sessile, cylindrical. Flowers c. 2 cm across. Dorsal sepal subspathulate-oblong, 1.3 cm long, apex incurved, broadly obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely subspathulate-oblong, a little widened at the base, 1.3 cm long, apex incurved, broadly obtuse; mentum short. Petals obliquely subspathulate-obovate, 1.2 cm long, apex incurved, broadly obtuse. Lip oblong, 0.8 cm long, with thin reticulate veins and a linear basal keel extending to beyond the middle, margins near the middle slightly undulate, subacute. Column short, rather thick, clinandrium with a triangular median tooth; column-foot incurved, near the apex concave. Anther rounded-cucullate, glabrous, in front truncate.
(after Schlechter, 1905).
Colours: Sepals and petals yellowish, inside densely spotted brown, lip dull violet, the column-foot at the base with a violet spot.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1000-1300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: December-January.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Madang and Eastern Highlands Provinces).
Map: NEUROMAP.JPG [Dendrobium neuroglossum Schltr., distribution map.]
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.