Dendrobium helix P.J. Cribb 1980 SECTION Spatulata

Photo courtesy of Andy's Orchids, Copyright © 2002 All rights reserved

Plant ensitu in Papua New Guinea Photo courtesy of Wolfgang H. Bandisch Copyright © 1998, 1999 All rights reserved.

Common Name Corkscrew Orchid [PNG} - The Twisted Petal Dendrobium

Flower Size 1 1/2 to 4" [4 to 10 cm]

A large to giant sized, hot growing epiphyte from New Guinea on exposed branches of lowland coastal forest trees at elevations of sealevel to 150 meters with clustered, swollen basally, tapering apically, yellow orange stems carrying many, elliptic to ovate-elliptic leaves that diminish in size towards the apex and blooms at most any time of the year on a to 20" [50 cm] long, erect, ascending or horizontal racemose, axillary, laxly, many [15 to 20] flowered inflorescence with nodding, stiff, fleshy flowers, that arises from the leaf sheaths at the apex of the upper leaf nodes of mature leafed canes. In the winter months water and fertilizer can be slightly reduced allowing the plant to dry out between waterings and should be resumed when new growth is initiated.

Synonyms Durabaculum helix (P.J.Cribb) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones, Orchadian 13: 488 (2002

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; AOS Bulletin Vol 51 No 3 1982 photo; Lowland Orchids of of Papua New Guinea Peter O'Byrne 1994 drawing/photo fide; Orchid Species Culture; Dendrobium Bakers 1996; Flora Malesiana Orchids of New Guinea Vol II Shuiteman and de Vogel 2002; The Dendrobiums H. P. Wood 2006

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