Dendrobium vandoides Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1 (1912) 603; 21 (1928) t. 203, fig. 763.
Type: Schlechter 16694 (holo B, lost); para: Schlechter 17185 (B, lost).
Rhizome very short, roots elongated, filiform, flexuose, glabrous. Stems crowded, erect, laterally flattened, 60-70 cm by 10-13 mm, densely many-leaved. Leaf sheaths 1-1.3 cm wide, entirely covering the stem. Leaves curved-patent, strap-shaped, 20-25 by 3-3.5 cm, apex unequally obtusely bilobulate. Inflorescences arising laterally from the stem; peduncle 2 cm long, 2-flowered, spathe semiorbicular, laterally flattened, obtuse. Pedicel and ovary 2 cm long, glabrous. Flowers c. 3 cm across. Dorsal sepal elliptic-ligulate, 2 cm long, apex obtuse. Lateral sepals obliquely elliptic-ligulate, a little widened at the base, 2 cm long, apex obtuse; mentum short, obtuse. Petals obliquely elliptic, a little shorter than the sepals, apex obtuse. Lip 3-lobed in basal third, 1.3 by 0.5 cm, inside in basal half papillose, with a short basal keel, in upper half transversely rugulose; lateral lobes 0.3 cm long, subulate; midlobe oblong, margins regularly pectinate-ciliate. Column short, rather thick, clinandrium 3-lobulate, the lateral lobules very short, the median tooth-like, erect; column-foot with 5 (3 according to Schlechter's description, 5 according to his drawing) small cavities at the apex.
(after Schlechter, 1912).
Colours: Flower pale yellowish, outside with reddish dots, spotted inside.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland rainforest. Altitude 0-400 m.
Flowering time in the wild: Throughout the year.
Distribution: New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago.
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Manokwari?, Yapen Waropen, and Jayapura Regencies); Papua New Guinea (Gulf, East Sepik, Madang, Morobe, Central and Milne Bay Provinces, also West New Britain).
Map: VANDOMAP.JPG [Dendrobium vandoides Schltr., distribution map.]
Notes: Single stems of this robust species may indeed be mistaken for those of a Vanda, as the name indicates. The clustered stems with thin roots at the base, and of course the flowers, are totally unlike those of a Vanda, however.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.