Dendrobium quadriferum Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 563; 21 (1923) t. 189, fig. 710.
Type: Schlechter 17143 (holo B, lost; iso AMES, BO, G, L).
Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, patent, slender, fleshy, up to 65 cm by 6-9 mm, laxly many-leaved, unbranched. Leaf sheaths entirely covering the stem. Leaves erect-patent, lanceolate-elliptic, 12-17 by 3.5-5.2 cm, base cuneate, apex acuminate, thinly papyraceous. Inflorescences lateral from the stems, racemose, subsessile, head-like, 4-7-flowered. Floral bracts elliptic, shorter than the ovary, apex acute. Ovary 1 cm long, cylindrical, sparsely covered with scale-leaves. Flowers c. 2 cm long, outside sparsely covered with scale-hairs, cleistogamous. Dorsal sepal oblong-triangular, 1.2 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely oblong-triangular, widened at the base, 1.2 cm long, apex obtuse; mentum conical, 0.7 cm long, obtuse. Petals obliquely elliptic-oblong, 1.2 cm long, apex obtuse. Lip in basal part with a long narrow claw, in outline obovate, in the middle part rhomboid-quadrate, 1.8 cm long, in basal part with a reflexed 3-dentate appendage with the median tooth smaller, the appendage provided with a broad blade-like outgrowth which extends to a little beyond the middle of the lip, apical part of the lip sparsely pubescent, apex apiculate. Column short, clinandrium 3-lobulate, lateral lobules rounded, the median a little longer, subulate; column-foot 0.7 cm long, near the apex with a quadrangular cavity. Anther broadly rhomboid-cucullate, glabrous, umbonate.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Flowers white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1000 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Madang Province: Kani Mountains).
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.