Dendrobium speciosum J. E Smith 1805 SECTION Dendrocoryne
Another Angle Photos by Jay Pfahl ©
Yellow flower variety Photo courtesy of Jean Claude George ©
Plant and Flowers Photo courtesy of Guy Cantor ©.
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Common Name The Outstanding Dendrobium - Sydney Rock Orchid - Rock Lily
Flower Size to 3" [to 7.5 cm]
Found in New South Wales and Victoria Australia from the coastline to about 150 miles inland on rocks at the base of cliffs in open forests with good air movement as a small to medium sized, cool to hot growing lithophyte with swollen or clavate, several noded, slightly sulcate stems covered with sheathing bracts and carrying 2 to 5, towards the apex, ovate or oblong, thick, coriaceous, obtuse leaves. They bloom in the spring with fragrant flowers on an erect or pendant, to 18" [45 cm] long, many flowered raceme and need cool to warm conditions, and a drier winter rest with no water or fertilizer. The pleasingly fragrant flowers open in the daytime and close as the cooler evening temps take hold.
Synonyms Callista speciosa (Sm.) Kuntze 1891; Dendrobium speciosum subsp. capricornicum (Clemesha) D.P.Banks & Clemesha 1990; Dendrobium speciosum var. capricornicum Clemesha 1982; Dendrocoryne speciosum (Sm.) Brieger 1981; Thelychiton capricornicus (Clemesha) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones 2002; Thelychiton speciosus (Sm.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones 2002; Tropilis speciosa (Sm.) Butzin 1982
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchid Species Culture; Dendrobium Bakers 1996; The Dendrobiums H. P. Wood 2006; Native Orchids of Australia Jones 2006 as Thelychiton capricornicus; Native Orchids of Australia Jones 2006 as Thelychiton speciosus
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