Dendrobium hellwigianum Kraenzl. ex Warb. 1893 SECTION Oxyglossum Photo courtesy of Weyman Bussey

Plant and FlowersPhoto courtesy of Dale and Deni Borders

Plant and Flowers Photo courtesy of Eric Hunt, plant grown by Hanging Gardens

to MOSTLY

Common Name Hellwig's Dendrobium {German Botanist in New Guinea late 1800's]

Flower Size 3/4" to 1 1/3" [2.5 t o 3 cm]

Found commonly in Papua & New Guinea in mist forests at elevations of 1400 to 2700 meters and is a small sized, cold to warm growing epiphyte that likes cool, damp shady conditions. This orchid has a tufted, sometimes branching stem carrying 1to 5 apical, fleshy, nearly terete [chive-like] leaves bloomin on a very short, axillary, 1 to 3 flowered inflorescence that arises from the nodes at or near the apex of older leafless and leafed canes with the very long-lasting flowers held nestled in the leaves occuring most often in the fall but is possible at any time. Keep this plant dryer between waterings in the winter months and also reduce the fertilizer.

Synonyms Dendrobium coerulescens Hort. 1838; Dendrobium cyananthum L.O.Wms. 1946; Dendrobium geluanum Schlechter 1921; Dendrobium rhaphiotes Schlechter 1919; Pedilonum geluanum (Schltr.) Rauschert 1983 ; Pedilonum hellwigianum (Kraenzl. ex Warb.) Rauschert 1983; Pedilonum rhaphiotes (Schltr.) Rauschert 1983

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; The Orchidaceae of German New Guinea Schlechter 1985; AOS Bulletin Vol 61 No 11 1992 photo; Orchid Species Culture; Dendrobium Bakers 1996; Flora Malesiana Orchids of New Guinea Vol II Shuiteman and de Vogel 2002; Australian Orchid Review Vol 70 No 3 2005; The Dendrobiums H. P. Wood 2006; Malesian Orchid Journal Vol 9 2012 photo fide;

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