Dendrobium hellwigianum Kraenzl. ex Warb. 1893 SECTION Calyptrochilus 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

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, cool to cold 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 ; Orchidaceae Monandre-Dendrobiinae Fr. Kraenzlin 1910; The Orchidaceae of German New Guinea Schlechter 1912/85; Miniature Orchids Northern 1980 as D coerulescens photo ok; AOS Bulletin Vol 61 No 11 1992 photo; Orchid Species Culture; Dendrobium Bakers 1996; Dendrobium and its Relatives Lavarack, Harris and Stocker 2000 photo fide; 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 photo fide; Mille Et Une miniOrchidees Roguenant 2009 photo fide; Malesian Orchid Journal Vol 9 2012 photo fide; A Guide to the Dendrobium of New Guinea Schuiteman 2013 photo fide; AOS Bulletin Vol 85 #3 2016 photo fide;

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

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