Dendrobium cruentum Rchb.f 1884 SECTION Formosae

Another View Photo courtesy of Jay Pfahl

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Common Name The Blood Red Dendrobium - In Thailand - Ueang nok kaeo

Flower Size 1 1/2 to 2 1/2" [3.75 to 6.25 cm]

A Thai, Burmese and Vietnamese small to medium sized, cool to warm growing, epiphytic species from low elevations in open forests where it is found on smaller trees. The plant has erect pseudobulbs that are swollen basally and has leaf sheaths with black hairs carrying many, deciduous, ellptic-oblong, leathery, leaves that are hairy on the underside and are spaced all along the stem. The bloom season is in the spring through fall on an axillary, short, 1 to 2 flowered, inflorescence with faintly fragrant, longlasting flowers that arises from the nodes on the stem in between leaves at the upper apex of the leafed pseudobulb, and needs a definite rest from water and fertilizer in the winter months.

Synonyms Callista cruenta (Rchb. f.) Kuntze 1891

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchids of Burma Grant 1895/1995; The Orchids of Thailand Seidenfaden & Smitinand 1959 drawing fide; Orchidiana Philipiniana Vol 1 Valmayor 1984; AOS Bulletin Vol 54 No 8 1985 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 65 No 8 1996 photo; Orchid Species Culture; Dendrobium Bakers 1996; A Field Guide to the Wild Orchids of Thailand Vaddhanaphuti 2001; AOS Bulletin Vol 73 No 3 2004; The Dendrobiums H. P. Wood 2006; Wild Orchids in Myanamar Vol 3 Tanaka 2007; Miniature Orchids Frownie 2007; AOS Bulletin Vol 77 No 8 2008 photo