Prev Species: Dendrobium anosmum


Dendrobium vesiculosum

Dendrobium vesiculosum

Dendrobium vesiculosum M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, Lasianthera 1 (1996) 9, fig. 2, pl. 3 & 4A.

Type: Canberra Nat. Bot. Garden cult., 2 Jul. 1990 (Clements 6631) (holo CANB, iso CANB, NCBG).

Plant epiphytic with pendulous stems. Rhizome much abbreviated. Pseudobulbs 25-35 cm by 0.8-1.2 cm, more or less cylindrical, when young covered with hyaline sheaths. Leaves c. 8 per pseudobulb, linear-elliptical to linear-lanceolate, 8-10 by 1.8-2.2 cm, thin-textured; base cuneate; apex acuminate and slightly recurved. Inflorescence lateral, bearing 2 flowers. Peduncles 0.7-1 cm long, sheathed with papery, hyaline sterile bracts. Pedicels about 1 cm long, slender. Ovary c. 3 mm long. Flowers c. 2 cm across, expanding widely, lacking any noticeable scent, not self-pollinating. Dorsal sepal linear-ovate, 1.4-1.5 cm by 4.5-5 mm, erect and shallowly recurved; apex subacute. Lateral sepals linear-oblong, 1.4-1.5 cm by 4.5-5 mm, slightly falcate, connate at the base, widely divergent; apex subacute. Petals lanceolate, 1.2-1.4 cm by 4-4.5 mm, widely divergent; apex subacute. Lip linear-lanceolate, 1.2-1.3 cm by 4.5-5 mm, thin textured, erect in basal third then porrect; apex acute to acuminate, decurved; callus linear-lanceolate, slightly thickened, with minute whitish vescicles in the apical half. Column c. 4 mm long, porrect from the end of the ovary; column foot c. 5 mm long, slightly curved. Anther c. 2 mm by 1.5 mm, erect, with small projections. Pollinia 4, c. 1 mm long, linear-clavoid, waxy. Stigma c. 1.2 mm long, elliptical, sunken. Fruit not seen.
(after Clements & Jones, 1996).


Leaves bright green. Flowers pale greenish yellow, callus on the lip yellowish green with minute whitish vescicles. Anther pale yellow, pollinia orange.

Epiphyte on trees in disturbed rainforest on low ridges in the valley floor. Altitude 500 m.

New Guinea (endemic).

Papua New Guinea (Morobe and East New Britain Provinces).

Map: Dendrobium vesiculosum M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, distribution map.

Warm growing epiphyte.

Cultivated specimens flowering throughout the year. Flowers last 5-10 days.

  • Family Orchidaceae
  • Subfamily Epidendroideae
  • Tribe Dendrobieae
  • Genus Dendrobium
  • Section Dendrobium
  • Species Dendrobium vesiculosum

Dendrobium vesiculosum M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones is related to Dendrobium anosmum Sw., and is distinguished by the much smaller yellowish flowers with a differently shaped lip.


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Dendrobium vesiculosum

Dendrobium vesiculosum M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, plant habit, photo Ed de Vogel, based on Leiden cult. 20080597 from West New Britain Prov.

Dendrobium vesiculosum

Dendrobium vesiculosum M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, stems with inflorescences, photo Ed de Vogel, based on Leiden cult. 20080597 from West New Britain Prov.

Dendrobium vesiculosum

Dendrobium vesiculosum M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, flower, front view, photo Ed de Vogel, based on Leiden cult. 20080597 from West New Britain Prov.

Dendrobium vesiculosum

Dendrobium vesiculosum M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, flower, oblique front view, photo Ed de Vogel, based on Leiden cult. 20080597 from West New Britain Prov.

Dendrobium vesiculosum

Dendrobium vesiculosum M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, plant habit, photo Ed de Vogel, based on Leiden cult. 20081764 from East New Britain Prov.

Dendrobium vesiculosum

Dendrobium vesiculosum M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, inflorescences, photo Ed de Vogel, based on Leiden cult. 20081764 from East New Britain Prov.

Dendrobium vesiculosum

Dendrobium vesiculosum M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, inflorescence, photo Ed de Vogel, based on Leiden cult. 20081764 from East New Britain Prov.

Dendrobium vesiculosum

Dendrobium vesiculosum M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, inflorescence, photo Ed de Vogel, based on Leiden cult. 20081764 from East New Britain Prov.

Dendrobium vesiculosum

Dendrobium vesiculosum M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, drawing Marion Garratt, in Lasianthera 1 (1996) 19, fig. 2