Dendrobium hodgkinsonii Rolfe by B & C Bennett We purchased a flask of this taxon in 2000 at the Melbourne ANOS conference, from  Phil Spence.  This was part of the first release of the plant here after it had been re-  discovered.  It had not been seen since the original collection in Eastern Papua New  Guinea.  When it was originally found or re-discovered is not stated. Some botanists  have apparently speculated that this taxon may be a natural hybrid between  D.spectible (Blume) Miquel and D.atroviolaceum Rolfe, but this has not been  confirmed.  We have struggled to maintain these plants after de-flasking with only limited  success, obviously our conditions are not quite right.  The plant displayed has 5  pseudobulbs of about 12cm high with 1-3 leaves 10cm x 3.5cm .  There are 6 small  back bulbs without leaves.  The inflorescence appear from the apex of the  pseudobulbs, ours had 2 with 5-6 flowers plus one which had finished and another  just starting to appear.  The flowers have creamy yellow sepals, pointed, narrow,  approx. 3cm long, the petal are paler.  The labellum is light green, the side lobes  rolled right up over the column and ovary, inside striped purple, dotted on the front  section and with wavy white edged margins.  The flowers are nodding and not opened  widely.   We grow in perlite and peat mix with the plant hanging high in the shade house  which has 50% shade cloth and polycarbonate roofing.  Watering is 3 times a week in  summer and twice in cooler months.   Reference: Orchid Species Culture Dendrobium  Baker & Baker.  Dendrobium bracteosum  Dendrobium canaliculatum Dendrobium hodgkinsonii Dendrobium ruckeri Dendrobium williamsonii Dimerandra buenaventurae Eria albidotomentosa Eria lobata Galeandra dives Hoffmannseggella fournieri Isabelia pulchella More Articles