Dendrobium salmoneum Schltr., in K.Schum. & Lauterb., Nachtr. Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee (1905) 178; Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 21 (1923) t. 177, fig. 660.
Type: Schlechter 14082 (holo B, lost).
Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, erect, slender, slightly thickened towards the apex, up to 25 cm by 0.4 mm, many-leaved. Leaf sheaths entirely covering the stem. Leaves patent, narrowly elliptic, 3-4 by 1.1-1.6 cm, apex subacute to acute. Inflorescences racemose, short, few-flowered. Floral bracts lanceolate, 0.5 cm long, apex acute, glabrous. Pedicel and ovary 1.5 cm long, clavate. Flowers resupinated or not, c. 1.5 cm long. Dorsal sepal ovate, 0.5 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals strongly obliquely ovate, much widened at the base, 0.5 cm long, apex shortly acuminate; mentum oblongoid, 0.9 cm long, obtuse. Petals linear, 0.4 cm long, apex obtuse. Lip concave, narrowly oblong, slightly widened towards the apex, 0.9 cm long, apical margin minutely fimbriate, apex hood-like, truncate. Column short, clinandrium 3-dentate; column-foot 0.9 cm long, with an obtuse median keel. Anther obtusely-cucullate, in front truncate.
(after Schlechter, 1905).
Colours: Flowers orange-yellow or orange-red.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 800-1100 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, April, October, December.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Southern Highlands, Eastern Highlands, and Madang Provinces).
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.