DENDROBIUM NOBILE.
Dendrobium nobile, Gen. et sp. Orch. p. 80.
The first knowledge that we had of this charming plant was from a Chinese drawing in the
library of the Horticultural Society ; and from that drawing, made in China under the eye of
Mr. Reeves, the short character above referred to was taken. A live plant brought home by Mr.
Reeves was presented to Messrs. Loddiges, with whom it flowered for the first, time, and in great
magnificence, in February, 1887.
Dendrobium is one of the handsomest of the Asiatic genera of this order, and I think
D. nobilemust be considered the handsomest of all Dendrobia. Its very stems are so bright and
transparent that they form a beautiful object, and the effect of the bright green veins of the
leaf-sheaths seen through the semitransparent skin.is very striking^The flowers are unrivalled for
delicacy of texture, and gracefulness of form ; at first nodding as if their slender stalks were
unable to sustain their weight; and then, as they disentangle their ample folds, assuming a horizontal
position, with the rich trumpet-shaped lip forming an apparently solid centre, they seem purposely
to raise themselves to the distinct view of the beholder.
This species is most nearly allied to D. moniliforme, figured in the Botanical Register, t. 1314,
from which it differs in having a downy lip with a rounded termination, and much more obtuse as
well as larger petals.
It is not known in what part of China this species is found wild. Mr. Reeves bought it in
the market at Macao1
* / ( ^ ___I 1 j - " 1 Stems erect, clustered, light green, foot and more high, rather compressed, with deeply
furrowed joints about three-quarters of an inch long. Leaves rather distichous, narrow-oblong,
obliquely emarginate, firm, flat, obtuse; with thin semitransparent sheaths, which quite surround
the stem at the base, and permanently clothe it when the leaves themselves haver, dropped off.
Peduncles ascending, 2-3-flowered, bursting through the leaf-sheaths at their back, about two inches
long, with short, membranous, acuminate bracts at the base of the pedicels. Flowers when in bud
nodding, when expanded horizontal, quite, spread open, two inches and three-quarters across.
Sepals broadly linear, nearly equal, obtuse, the lateral a very little lengthened at the base, pale
greenish yellow tipped with rich bright purple. P etals oblong, obtuse, rather wavy, very delicate
and transparent, the same colour as the sepals. Lip rolled up, very shortly unguiculate, downy
both inside and outside; in form obovate, with a deep notch on each side, separating it into three
obscure lobes, of which the lateral are crisp at the edge, the central one even, rounded, obscurely
cuspidate; in colour deep blood-red in the tube, pale greenish yellow at the edges and disk, tinged
with purple at the end; a linear downy space passes upwards along the centre from the unguis till
it loses itself in the disk.