Dendrobium aphyllum I think???

[Junebug]

I believe this is a Dendrobium aphyllum but I'm not sure. Does anyone agree? There seems to be so much controversy about these guys.

[gnathaniel]

Hi Junebug, it looks to me more like Den. primulinum b/c the canes look a little thicker than aphyllum usually has. The hint of yellow in the lip also points to primulinum, which has both yellow and white-lipped (and intermediate) forms. Whatever it is, it's very pretty!

--Nat

[stefpix]

I have an apiphyllum. very similar. canes very similar. in yours the lip looks a bit more "frilly" and yellowish.
But could as well be. Within a specie there are variations

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by stefpix

I have an apiphyllum. very similar. canes very similar. in yours the lip looks a bit more "frilly" and yellowish.
But could as well be. Within a specie there are variations

The yellow is undefined and very pale on my specimen and the veining is very pale too. There is a pale lavender border on the lower edge of the lip and the thickness of the canes are about 1/3 as round as a standard pencil. I ran across an OB thread with photos and an in depth discussion on how to differentiate the species by petal and dorsal width. The information on that thread lead me to believe this is an aphyllum.

This plant was given to me late last summer. It had been growing potted in badly decayed media that looked like dirt. It's leaves and canes looked like another plant that's been struggling under my care for years. My original is growing well now and has 5 unopened buds. As I remember the blooms on my original plant were lavender and white with no yellow. It's been 5 years since it last bloomed so my memory could be wrong. I'll post comparison photos when it blooms.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by gnathaniel

Hi Junebug, it looks to me more like Den. primulinum b/c the canes look a little thicker than aphyllum usually has. The hint of yellow in the lip also points to primulinum, which has both yellow and white-lipped (and intermediate) forms. Whatever it is, it's very pretty!

--Nat

Thank you. The yellow is pale and undefined and the lower edge of the lip has a lavender border. The canes are about 1/3 the thickness of a pencil. I haven't detected a perfume yet but the flowers just opened and I might be checking at the wrong time of day.