Dendrobium bigibbum Lindley 1852 SECTION Phalaenanthe TYPE for the Section
Photo by Nick Doe
Photo by Nick Doe
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THROUGH 
Common Name The Cooktown Orchid [Australia] In Australia - The Two-Humped Dendrobium - The Mauve Butterfly Orchid
Flower Size 2" [5 cm]
Found in Queensland Australia and Papua and New Guinea [?] as a medium to large sized, hot growing epiphytic or lithophytic species that grows in semi-arid, low elevations of sea level to 400 meters, in high light situations with cylindrical, narrow, tapering slightly towards both ends, green or reddish purple stems carrying 3 to 12, ovate or lanceolate, acute leaves held in the apical half and can bloom in the mid summer through winter on an axillary, to 12" [to 30 cm], arching raceme with 2 to 20, large, long lasting flowers that arise from the nodes near the apex of the leafy or leafless canes if given a moderate winter rest and not resuming water until the new growths are 2 to 3" tall.
This species is the floral emblem of Queensland and grows in semi-arid areas.
Synonyms Callista bigibba [Lindley]Kuntze 1891; Callista phalaenopsis (Fitzg.) Kuntze 1891; Callista sumneri [ F. Muell.] Kuntze 1891; Dendrobium biggibum [common mispelling], Dendrobium bigibbum f. compactum (C.T.White) G.Piper 1950; Dendrobium bigibbum f. phalaenopsis (Fitzg.) St.Cloud 1956; Dendrobium bigibbum f. superbium G.Piper 1950; Dendrobium bigibbum subvar candidum [Rchb.f.] Veitch 1888; Dendrobium bigibbum subvar. compactum (C.T.White) St. Cloud 1956; Dendrobium bigibbum subvar. superbum (Rchb.f.) H.J.Veitch 1887; Dendrobium bigibbum var. albopurpuratum auct. 1895; Dendrobium bigibbum var. album F.M.Bailey 1902; Dendrobium bigibbum var candidum Rchb.f. 1878; Dendrobium bigibbum var. compactum (C.T.White) Peter B.Adams 2015; Dendrobium bigibbum var. macranthum F.M.Bailey 1895; Dendrobium bigibbum var. phalaenopsis (Fitzg.) F.M.Bailey 1883; Dendrobium bigibbum var sumneri [F. Mueller]F.M.Bailey 1883; Dendrobium bigibbum var. superbum Rchb.f. 1878; Dendrobium lithocola D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. 1989; Dendrobium phalaenopsis Fitzg. 1880; Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. albopurpureum auct 1895; Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. album B.S.Williams 1894; Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. album auct. 1895; Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. chamberlainianum auct. 1894; Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. compactum C.T.White 1941; Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. dellense B.S.Williams 1894; Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. highburyense auct. 1894; Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. hololeuca auct. 1895; Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. lindeniae auct. 1902; Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. rothschildianum Kraenzl. 1892; Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. rubescens Nash 1914; Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. schroderianum Rolfe 1891; Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. schroederianum W.Watson 1891; Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. splendens auct. 1906; Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. statterianum auct. 1891; Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. thundersleyense auct. 1905; Dendrobium sumneri F. Mueller 1867; Vappodes bigibba (Lindl.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones 2002; Vappodes lithocola (D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones 2002; Vappodes phalaenopsis (Fitzg.) M.A.Clem. & D.L.Jones 2002
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Orchidaceae Monandre-Dendrobiinae Fr. Kraenzlin 1910; Orchidaceae Monandre-Dendrobiinae Fr. Kraenzlin 1910 as D bigibbum var candidum; Orchidaceae Monandre-Dendrobiinae Fr. Kraenzlin 1910 as D phalaenopsis; Orchidaceae Monandre-Dendrobiinae Fr. Kraenzlin 1910 as D phalaenopsis var hololeucum; Orchidaceae Monandre-Dendrobiinae Fr. Kraenzlin 1910 as D phalaenopsis var rothschildianum; Orchidaceae Monandre-Dendrobiinae Fr. Kraenzlin 1910 as D phalaenopsis var schroederianum; Orchidaceae Monandre-Dendrobiinae Fr. Kraenzlin 1910 as D phalaenopsis var statterianum; Orchidaceae Monandre-Dendrobiinae Fr. Kraenzlin 1910 as D sumneri; Die Orchideen Schlechter 1915; Die Orchideen Schlechter 1915 as D phalaenopsis; Die Orchideen Schlechter 1915 as D phalaenopsis var hololeucum; Die Orchideen Schlechter 1915 as D phalaenopsis var rothschildianum; Die Orchideen 2 Auflage Schlechter 1927; Die Orchideen 2 Auflage Schlechter 1927 as D phalaenopsis; Die Orchideen 2 Auflage Schlechter 1927 as D phalaenopsis var hololeucum; Die Orchideen 2 Auflage Schlechter 1927 as D phalaenopsis var rothschildianum; Flora of Malaya Vol 1 Orchids Holttum 1953; Flora of Malaya Vol 1 Orchids Holttum 1953 as D phalaenopsis; AOS Bulletin Vol 27 No 3 1958 drawing ok; AOS Bulletin Vol 27 No 5 1958 drawing good; AOS Bulletin Vol 28 #5 1959 as D phalaenopsis postage stamp fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 28 No 9 1959; AOS Bulletin Vol 29 No 5 1960 as D phalaenopsis photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 31 # 2 1962 as D phalaenopsis photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 32 No 8 1963 as D phalaenopsis photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 32 No 10 1963 as D phalaenopsis; Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965; Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965 as D biggibum var phalaenopsis; AOS Bulletin Vol 35 No 4 1966 as D phalaenopsis photo fide; ; AOS Bulletin Vol 37 No 8 1968 as D phalaenopsisphoto fide; Orchids of Australia Nicholls 1969 drawing fide; AOS Bulletin Volo 47 #8 1978 as D phalaenopsis photo fide; The Orchids of Papua New Guinea An Introduction Millar 1978 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 48 No 10 1979 sa D phalaenopsis var alba photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 49 No 9 1980 photo fide; Orchids of Asia Soon 1980; Die Orchideen lieferung 11/12 633 - 752 Brieger 1981 as D phalaenopsis; Die Orchideen lieferung 11/12 633 - 752 Brieger 1981 as D biggibum var superbum photo fide; Die Orchideen lieferung 11/12 633 - 752 Brieger 1981 as D biggibum var compactum photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 55 No 11 1986 as D phalaenopsis photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 55 No 11 1986 as D phalaenopsis var alba photo fide; Dendrobium Orchids of Australia Upton 1989 drawing/photo fide; A Guide to Orchids of the World Hodgson, Paine & Anderson 1991 Photo fide; A Guide to Orchids of the World Hodgson, Paine & Anderson 1991 as D bigibbum var alba Photo fide; Orchid Digest Vol 56 No 3 1992 photo fide; Orchid Digest Vol 56 No 3 1992 as D phalaenopsis photo fide; The Manual Of Cultivated Orchid Species Bechtel, Cribb & Laurent 1992 photo fide; The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Orchids Pridgeon 1992 photo fide; Identification of the Orchids [Orchidaceae Juss.] Vietnam Averyanov 1994 as D phalaenopsis; Lowland Orchids of of Papua New Guinea Peter O'Byrne 1994 drawing fide; Manual of Orchids Stewart 1995 drawing fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 65 No 12 1996 photo fide; Orchid Species Culture, Dendrobium Bakers 1996; Orchid Species Culture, Dendrobium Bakers 1996 as D phalaenopsis; AOS Bulletin Vol 66 No 1 1997 photo fide; Orchids of Papua New Guinea Millar 1999 photo fide; Dendrobium and their Relatives Lavarack, Harris and Stocker 2000 photo fide; Dendrobium and their Relatives Lavarack, Harris and Stocker 2000 as D bigibbum var bigibbum photo fide; Dendrobium and their Relatives Lavarack, Harris and Stocker 2000 as D bigibbum var superbum photo fide; Flora Malesiana Orchids of New Guinea Vol II Shuiteman and de Vogel 2002; Botanica's Orchids 2002 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 73 #3 2004 as D phalaenopsis photo fide; Australian Orchid Review Vol 69 No 4 2004 photo as D bigibbum var superbum; Flora's Orchids Nash & La Croix 2005; Australian Orchid Review Vol 71 No 1 2006 photo; The Dendrobiums Wood 2006 photo fide; Native Orchids of Australia Jones 2006 as Vappodes bigibba photo fide; Native Orchids of Australia Jones 2006 as Vappodes lithocola photo fide; Native Orchids of Australia Jones 2006 as Vappodes phalaenopsis photo fide; Orchid Digest Vol 73 #2 2009 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 79 #3 2010 photo fide; Orchid Digest Vol 76 #1 2012 photo fide; Le Petit Larousse des Orchidees Lecoufle, Barthelemy & Schmidt 2013 photo fide; Genera Orchidacearum Vol 6 Epidendroidee Pt 3 Pridgeon, Cribb, Chase and Rasmussen 2014 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 85 #9 2016 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 85 #11 2016 photo fide; Malesian Orchid Journal Vol 17 2016 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 86 # 7 2017 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 86 #9 2017 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 87 #1 2018 photo fide; Orchid Digest Vol 83 #2 2019 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 88 #5 2019 photo/drawing fide;
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Dendrobium bigibbum Lindley 1852 ssp. bigibbum
Photo by John Rees
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Text by John Rees
Dendrobium bigibbum ssp. bigibbum grows on the western side of Cape York and has been commonly called the "Weipa Cooktown orchid" because it is found around Weipa, a bauxite mine on the western side of Cape York. Its flowers are smaller than Den. bigibbum ssp. phalaenopsis and they grow to 5 cm across on canes of length similar to those of Den. bigibbum ssp. phalaenopsis. In flower, it is easily identified by the white spot on the labellum.
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
AOS Bulletin Vol 49 #9 1980 photo fide; Dendrobium Orchids of Australia Upton 1989 drawing fide; A Guide to Orchids of the World Hodgson, Paine & Anderson 1991 Photo good; Manual of Orchids Stewart 1995;
Dendrobium bigibbum var. compactum (C.T.White) Peter B.Adams,2015
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References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ;
AOS Bulletin Vol 37 # 6 1968 as D phalaenopsis var compactum; Manual of Orchids Stewart 1995; AOS Bulletin Vol 65 No 8 1996 photo fide; Flora's Orchids Nash & La Croix 2005 photo fide; Malesian Orchid Journal Vol 17 2016 photo fide;
Dendrobium bigibbum ssp. phalaenopsis
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Text by John Rees
Dendrobium bigibbum ssp. phalaenopsis grows between Mount Molloy and Cooktown on the eastern side of Cape York and is the original "Cooktown Orchid". It may have larger flowers (up to 7 cm across) than other varieties of the species. There are a number of cultivars of this including 'Albomarginatum' (with white margins on the petals and sepals) and 'Hololeucum' (white flowers). Pseudobulbs can grow to 1.2 m. Selective breeding has produced some much larger, paler and flatter flowers, so much so that judges at shows often question the validity of naming them Dendrobium bigibbum ssp. phalaenopsis
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Flora of Malaya Vol 1 Orchids Holttum 1953 as D phalaenopsis var schroederianum drawing good; Encyclopedia of Cultivated Orchids Hawkes 1965 as D biggibum var phalaenopsis; AOS Bulletin Vol 48 #10 1979 as D phalaenospis photo fide; Orchids of Asia Soon 1980 as Dendrobium phalaenopsis photo fide; Flora's Orchids Nash & La Croix 2005 as Dendrobium phalaenopsis photo fide; Native Orchids of Australia Jones 2006 as Vappodes phalaenopsis; The Dendrobiums H. P. Wood 2006 as D phalaenopsis photo fide; Malesian Orchid Journal Vol 17 2016 photo fide;
Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. schroderianum Rolfe 1891
Photo by © Eric Hunt
A color version.
References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Die Orchideen Schlechter 1915 as D pierardi var schroederianum; Orchid Digest Vol 74 #1 2010 photo fide; Malesian Orchid Journal Vol 17 2016 photo fide;
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