Dendrobium atroviolaceum Rolfe 1890 SECTION Latouria Photo courtesy of Eric Hunt, plant grown by Orchid Mania.

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

to Mid to EARLY

Common Name The Black Blood-Red Derndrobium

Flower Size 2 1/2" [6 cm]

Found in New Guinea and some surrounding islands, at an elevation of 300-750 meters as a medium sized, hot to warm growing epiphyte on large tree trunks in rainforests and as such their conditions should be the same all year. This orchid has a clavately-fusiform, deeply sulcate, geenish when young, brownish with age stems carrying 2 to 4 apical, ovate-oblong, thick, coriaceous, obtusely obtuse apically, dark green above and paler below leaves. Frequent waterings and fertilizer will insure blooming in mid-winter through early summer with a short to 8" [to 20 cm], axillary raceme arising from just below or at the apex of new or older canes which carries 8 to many fragrant, heavy textured, very long lasting, nodding flowers. Plants should have a drier winter although never alowed to dry out completely, with less fertilizer until the new growths arise in the spring

Synonyms Dendrobium eustachyum Schlechter 1923; Dendrobium macgregorii F.Muell. & Kraenzl. 1894; Latourea atroviolacea [Rolfe] Breiger 1981; Latourorchis atroviolacea [Rolfe] Breiger 1981; Sayeria atroviolacea (Rolfe) Rauschert 1983; Sayeria eustachya (Schltr.) Rauschert 1983; Sayeria forbesii (Ridl.) Rauschert 1983

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; 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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------