Scientific Name: Dendrobium speciosum

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  • Common Name:
    King orchid, rock orchid
Joan Heavey
  • Derivation:
    Was Thelychiton speciousus)
  • Type:
    Epiphyte
  • Family:
    ORCHIDACEAE
  • Status:
    Select Status
  • Flowers:
    Winter, spring.
  • Flowers Color:
    Select Color
  • Fruit Color:
    Select Color
  • Vegetation Type:
    Rainforest, rock faces, where it can receive high light levels. Also moist gullies.
  • Species List:
    Landcare Display Garden, Bush food, NLTalks2010, Upper Yandina Creek,
Cultural Notes

TAKE CARE! Some information about bush foods and medicines may be anecdotal. Correct identification and preparation is essential:

Bush food. Swollen stems beaten to a pulp, cooked on hot stones and eaten.

Comments

A few species of Dendrobium have upward growing roots which allow leaves and debris to accumulate, break down and feed the plant. D. speciosum is one such plant.

Identification Notes

Robust epiphytic or lithophytic clump forming orchid. Leaves are thick and leathery, 4-25cm x 5-7cm on robust, cylindrical, shallowly grooved pseudobulbs to 90cm. Flowers are fragrant, white to cream, 20-45mm across, on arching racemes 10-60cm long

Associated Fauna

Pollinated by small native bees

Landscaping Notes

Needs sun for good flowering.||Featured in Noosa Landcare Display Garden at Pomona.||