Dendrobium

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
(unranked) : Monocots
Order : Asparagales
Family : Orchidaceae
Subfamily : Epidendroideae
Tribe : Podochilaeae
Subtribe : Dendrobiinae
Genus : Dendrobium.

Dendrobium species are either epiphytic, or occasionally lithophytic. They have adapted to a wide variety of habitats, from the high altitudes in the Himalayan mountains to lowland tropical forests and even to the dry climate of the Australian desert.

This genus of sympodial orchids develop pseudobulbs, which vary in length from a few centimetres (e.g. Dendrobium cuthbertsonii) to two metres long (e.g. Dendrobium pulchellum). Most grow into long reedlike stems. Some appear densely covered with short white or black hairs (Dendrobium infundibulum).

In selected species, the short, ovate leaves grow alternately over the whole length of the stems, in others, the leaves are bunched towards the apex of the stem (e.g. Dendrobium tetragonum). The axillary inflorescence vary in length from insignificant to 1m long, and can carry from a few (1-4) (e.g. Dendrobium nobile) to as many as 100 (e.g. Dendrobium speciosum) flowers. Deciduous species carry their leaves for one to two years then typically flower on leafless canes, while canes of evergreen species usually flower in the second year and can continue to flower for a number of years (e.g. Dendrobium densiflorum).

These Orchids grow quickly throughout summer, but take a rest during winter. Dormant buds erupt into shoots from the base of the pseudobulb mainly in spring, and a few species in autumn. This is then followed by rapid growth of new roots. Reproduction is usually through seed, but a few species reproduce asexually through keikis produced along the stem, usually after flowering and sometimes as a result of injury to the growing tip.

Selected species

Dendrobium amethystoglossum– Amethyst Tongued Dendrobium.
Dendrobium anosmum – Unscented Dendrobium - misnomer.
Dendrobium auriculatum – Eared Dendrobium.
Dendrobium bicaudatum – Two-tailed Dendrobium.
Dendrobium bukidnonensis– Bukidnon Dendrobium.
Dendrobium bullenianum – Bullen's Orange Dendrobium.
Dendrobium candidum.
Dendrobium cariniferum.
Dendrobium ceraula – Horned Dendrobium.
Dendrobium cerinum.
Dendrobium chameleon – Chameleon-like Dendrobium.
Dendrobium chrysanthum.
Dendrobium conanthum.
Dendrobium crumenatum – Pigeon Orchid, Sparrow Orchid, Bag-shaped Dendrobium, "dove orchid".
Dendrobium cuthbertsonii – Cuthbertson's Dendrobium.
Dendrobium dearei – Deare's Dendrobium.
Dendrobium erosum.
Dendrobium fairchildae – Fairchild's Dendrobium.
Dendrobium formosum.
Dendrobium gerlandianum.
Dendrobium gibsonii.
Dendrobium goldschmidtianum – Goldschmidt's Dendrobium.
Dendrobium guerreroi – Guerrero's Dendrobium.
Dendrobium hercoglossum.
Dendrobium heterocarpum – Different fruits Dendrobium.
Dendrobium hymenophyllum.
Dendrobium ionopus – Violet scented Dendrobium.
Dendrobium junceum Philippine endemic.
Dendrobium kingianum – Pink Rock Orchid, Captain King's Dendrobium, Pink Rock Lily (sometimes separated in Thelychiton).
Dendrobium lindleyi – Lindley's Dendrobium (formerly D. aggregatum).
Dendrobium lituiflorum.
Dendrobium loddigesii – Loddiges' Dendrobium.
Dendrobium macrophyllum – Large leafed Dendrobium.
Dendrobium mindanaense – Mindanao island Dendrobium.
Dendrobium miyasakii – Miyaki's Dendrobium.
Dendrobium nobile – Noble Dendrobium.
Dendrobium papilio – Butterfly Dendrobium.
Dendrobium parthenium.
Dendrobium phalaenopsis – Cooktown Orchid (formerly D. bigibbum var. phalaenopsis, D. bigibbum var. superbum) - now classified as Vappodes phalaenopsis.
Dendrobium philippinensis– Philippine Dendrobium.
Dendrobium phillippsii – Phillips' Dendrobium.
Dendrobium platycaulon – Flat Cane Dendrobium.
Dendrobium profusum – Profused' Dendrobium.
Dendrobium ramosii – Ramos' Dendrobium.
Dendrobium sanderae – Sander's Dendrobium.
Dendrobium schuetzei – Schuetz's Dendrobium.
Dendrobium secundum.
Dendrobium seratilabium – Serrated Lip Dendrobium.
Dendrobium sinense.
Dendrobium speciosum – Outstanding Dendrobium, King Orchid, Rock Lily.
Dendrobium taurinum – Bulls Head Dendrobium.
Dendrobium thyrsiflorum.
Dendrobium thysanophorum.
Dendrobium uniflorum – Single flowered Dendrobium.
Dendrobium velutinalabrum.
Dendrobium victoriae -reginae – Queen Victoria's Dendrobium.
Dendrobium wenzellii – Wenzell's Dendrobium.
Dendrobium yeagerei – Yeager's Dendrobium.


From wikipedia, The free ensyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendrobium)