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| Dendrobium primulinum Laos |
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| Dendrobium primulinum Laos |
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| Dendrobium primulinum Laos |
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| Dendrobium primulinum Laos |
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| Dendrobium primulinum Laos |
Dendrobium is a large genus of orchids. They contains about 1,200 species. The genus occurs in various habitats such as throughout much of south, east and southeast Asia, including China, Japan, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, New Guinea, Vietnam etc.
- In 1799, Olof Swartz establish Dendrobium genus.
- In 1981, Briegar reclassified all terete-leaved Dendrobiums from Australia and New Guinea into a new genus, Dockrillia. The Winika orchid from New Zealand was formerly D. cunninghamii, but has now been moved into a monotypic genus Winika
- In 1989, Clements upgraded the D. speciosum complex into individual species;[2] similarly, the D. bigibbum complex (which contains the well-known Cooktown Orchid of Australia, D. phalaenopsis) has recently been split up. However, as an illustration of the current revisions in the taxonomy of Orchidaceae these 'splits' have now been reversed and the currently accepted species, natural nothospecies and synonyms are presented on Wikispecies Dendrobium.
Dendrobium species are either epiphytic or lithophytic. They have adapted to a wide variety of habitats.
Dendrobium is sympodial-type of orchids. They develop pseudobulbs, which in length from less than 1 centimetre to several metres long, looklike canes. Leaf bases form sheaths that completely envelope the stem.
Ovate-leaves grow alternately over the whole length of the stems, Some species the leaves are bunched towards the apex of the stem. The axillary inflorescence in length from less to 1m long, and canes carry from a few to more 100 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.
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.
