Dendrobium tetragonum var. giganteum

[Posey]

Dendrobium tetragonum is native to Australia. There are four varieties of this epiphytic species. They are all small to medium sized plants characterized by their neat 4 angled stems/canes. Dendrobium tetragonum var. giganteum is native to North Queensland and the Cape York Peninsula where it is found at sea level to 700 m. It requires slightly warmer growing conditions than the other varieties. The flowers of giganteum are the largest in the section measuring up to 17 cm, but more typically around 10 cm. Canes/stems may grow up to 50 cm.

The longest cane on this first bloom young dude is 19 cm and the flowers are only about 12 cm. Normally, the flowers should be heavily spotted with dark red but this particular plant lacks that characteristic . It is mounted on a small diameter length of grape vine and the spikes grew after a dry winter rest with increased light, as would be expected in deciduous forests. There are multiple spikes and buds/flowers on this plant. I'm posting it now cause I'm trying to see if I can actually get a picture to show up in my thread. LOL. Will post more pictures when it is in full bloom. Maybe the other flowers will be bigger.



It worked