Dendrobium platygastrium

A small to medium-sized orchid with very striking pseudobulbs. Its growth habit alone makes it fascinating; the flowers are a wonderful bonus.

Dendrobium platygastrium originates from New Guinea, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. It grows epiphytically in moist, mossy areas in dense lowland and mountain forests, near watercourses and mangrove swamps.

The pseudobulbs grow to about 15 to 20 cm long and are noticeably broadened and very flat. They are borne horizontally, and the plant grows in a fan-like shape, with the individual pseudobulbs not overlapping. The dark green leaves along the pseudobulbs grow to about 4 to 6 cm long and are shed after the pseudobulb has flowered.

It blooms from autumn to spring with fleshy, thickened, white flowers with pink and yellow centers. The flowers appear in small groups of 3 to 8 individual flowers at the ends of the pseudobulbs.