Dendrobium spectabile

Object Details

Description: This large to medium sized orchid is known for its strange, twisted and crinkled flower. On top of this, the lip of the flower is also hinged, bouncing as the wind blows to attract its pollinator.
Bloom Time (Northern Hemisphere): November to May; peaks from January to March
Provenance: From a cultivated plant of known (indirect) wild origin

Range: New Guinea to New Caledonia
Habitat: Swampy lowland or lower mountain forests, or planted coconut trees; 985-6560ft (300-2000m)

Topic: Orchids; Living Collections

See more items in: Smithsonian Gardens Orchid Collection

Data Source: Smithsonian Gardens

Accession Number: 2017-0549A

Restrictions & Rights: CC0

Common Name: The Grand Dendrobium
Group: [vascular plants]
Class: Equisetopsida
Subclass: Magnoliidae
Superorder: Lilianae
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Dendrobium
Species: spectabile

Life Form: Epiphytic
Bloom Characteristics: Inflorescence is 8-16" (20-40 cm) long with 5-20 twisted, cream colored flowers veined in purple. Flowers are 3" (7.5 cm) across and last for 6 weeks.
Fragrance: Sweet (strong)

Metadata Usage: CC0

GUID

Record ID: ofeo-sg_2017-0549A

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Photographed by: Hannele Lahti

Photographed by: Creekside Digital