Dendrobium scopula Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 640; 21 (1928) t. 216, fig. 815.
Type: Schlechter 19146 (holo B, lost; iso AD, AMES, BO, E, K, L, NSW, S).
Rhizome short to elongated, stem-like, decumbent, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems erect to ascending, slender, much branched in upper half, 10-60 cm by 1.5-2 mm, at the base to 3 mm thick, many-leaved. Leaf sheaths 0.15-0.2 cm wide, entirely covering the stem. Leaves erect-patent, linear, 1-2.5 by 0.15-0.4 cm, apex unequally obtusely bilobulate; shiny, carnose. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem, 1-flowered, sessile. Pedicel and ovary 0.4-0.5 cm long, glabrous. Flower not resupinated, c. 0.7 cm long. Dorsal sepal oblong-ligulate, 0.35-0.5 cm long, apex subacute to obtuse. Lateral sepals falcate, obliquely oblong-ligulate, sublobate-widened at the base, 0.35-0.5 cm long, front margins coherent, apex subacute to obtuse; mentum sac-like, oblongoid, 0.2-0.25 cm long, obtuse. Petals subfalcate-ligulate, somewhat narrowed to the base, about as long as the sepals, apex obtuse to subacute. Lip 3-lobed near the apex, from the linear to ligulate claw conspicuously cuneate-widened to the apex, 0.35-0.4 by 0.2 cm, inside in the centre pilose, with two basally connate lamellae which are widened in the middle and which are decurrent on the base of the midlobe; lateral lobes divergent, obliquely ovate, obtuse; midlobe distinctly longer, semiorbicular-quadrangular, apical margins incurved, apex obtuse to obtusely apiculate. Column short, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules rounded, the median longer, triangular; column-foot ligulate, apex incurved, 0.25 cm long. Anther rounded-cucullate, with a dorsal callus, in front truncate, glabrous.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Flower white, lip with red markings.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lower montane forest. Altitude 1200-1300 m.
Flowering time in the wild: January, June.
Distribution: New Guinea (endemic).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua New Guinea (Morobe Province: Dischore Mountains, Madang Province: Finisterre Mountains).
Cultivation: Intermediate growing epiphyte.