Dendrobium daklakense
Dendrobium daklakense is a showy, attractive Vietnamese orchid that has evaded discovery until very recently.
Species Information
- Scientific Name: Dendrobium daklakense N.T.Tich, Schuit. & J.J.Verm.
- Conservation Status: Currently rated as Data Deficient (DD) according to IUCN Red List criteria, but likely to be endangered.
- Habitat: Grows as an epiphyte in semi-deciduous forest.
- Key Uses: Potentially an ornamental.
- Known hazards: None known.
Taxonomy
- Class: Equisetopsida
- Subclass: Magnoliidae
- Superorder: Lilianae
- Order: Asparagales
- Family: Orchidaceae
- Genus: Dendrobium
About this species
Within the huge orchid genus Dendrobium, there is a relatively small group of about 40 species from tropical Asia known as the section Formosae. All species in this section have large, showy flowers with a thick, waxy texture, which are most commonly white with orange markings. These beautiful orchids are much sought-after by collectors and, as a result, most of these species were discovered and described long ago. It is therefore surprising that one of the most striking species in this section, Dendrobium daklakense, should have remained undetected until very recently. It was discovered in 2009 at an undisclosed locality in the Daklak province of southern Vietnam by a hunter, who passed it on to a local orchid grower, Duong Toan. Kew botanist André Schuiteman, Vietnamese botanist Nguyen Thien Tich and Jaap Vermeulen from NCB Naturalis in the Netherlands joined forces to describe this species, which was formally published in November 2010.
Geography & Distribution
Vietnam (Dak Lak Province). As Dendrobium daklakense has not yet been found in the wild by scientists, it is possible that the actual origin of this species lies elsewhere, perhaps in neighbouring Laos or Cambodia. Orchid smuggling is unfortunately a widespread practice in the region. This would not alter the fact that it is most likely a rare and local species.
Description
Line drawing of Dendrobium daklakense by Nguyen Thien Tich
Dendrobium daklakense is an epiphytic orchid with clustered, cane-like, leafy stems up to 60 cm long. The leaves are dark green, densely covered with blackish hairs, 8-9 cm long and about 2 cm wide. The leaf-sheaths are dull green with dense blackish hairs, especially along the margin. The inflorescences are very short, arising from the upper part of the stem, and have 5-7 flowers. The flowers appear in November, open very wide, and are about 5 cm across. The sepals and petals are pure white, glossy and thick. The lip is 3-lobed, orange-yellow with orange-red keels and warts, and white at the base. The side-lobes have orange-red raised lines, and the top part of the mid-lobe is sometimes whitish. The column and anther are white. The pollinia (small bodies formed by cohering pollen masses) are orange-yellow. The pedicel and ovary are white, becoming greenish-white towards the top.
Threats & Conservation
Dendrobium daklakense is probably quite rare in the wild, with a restricted distribution, because otherwise it would have been discovered much earlier. It is highly likely to become a popular species among amateur orchid growers and provided that plants are raised from seed, rather than collected from the wild, this will help to ensure its survival. At present there is no information concerning potential threats to its habitat.
Cultivation
There is, as yet, no experience with cultivation of Dendrobium daklakense outside Vietnam. Species of Dendrobium section Formosae tend to be among the more difficult members of this genus to cultivate.
References & Credits
Lavarack, B., Harris, W. & Stocker, G. (2000). Dendrobium and its relatives. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon
Sathapattayanon, A. (2008). Taxonomic revision of orchids in the genus Dendrobium Sw. section Formosae (Benth. & Hook.f.) Hook.f. in Thailand and adjacent areas. Thesis, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.
Seidenfaden, G. (1985). Orchid genera in Thailand. XII. Dendrobium Sw. Op. Bot. 83: 1-295.
Tich, N.T., Schuiteman, A. & Vermeulen, J.J. (2010). Dendrobium daklakense; Eine neue Dendrobium-Art aus der Sektion Formosae aus Vietnam. Orchideenj. 17: 161--163. Read the article here (pdf).
Wood, H.P. (2006). The Dendrobiums. A.R.G. Gantner Verlag, Ruggell, Liechtenstein.
Kew Science Editor: André Schuiteman
Copyediting: Emma Tredwell
Kew would like to thank the following contributors: Nguyen Thien Tich, Duong Toan.
While every effort has been taken to ensure that the information contained in these pages is reliable and complete, the notes on hazards, edibility and suchlike included here are recorded information and do not constitute recommendations. No responsibility will be taken for readers’ own actions. Full website terms and conditions.
- Print friendly
- Send to a friend
-
Send to a friend Close
- Spread the word
-
Spread the word Close
- Blog this
- Donate
Follow Kew
Keep up to date with events and news from Kew
Fact Box
Allamanda cathartica
golden trumpet vine
The golden trumpet vine has clusters of particularly striking golden-yellow flowers, which contrast with the shiny dark green leaves to make a lush plant for the conservatory.
Related Tags
- discovered
- around the world
- sustainable
- the UK
- at risk
- challenging
- together
- powerful
- ground breaking
- ancient
- ornamental
- of use
- english garden
- innovative
- rich
- medicinal
- weed
- edible
- tasty
- adventurous
- endangered
- rainforest
- uncharted
- irreplaceable
- needs help
- common
- flowering
- wild
- amazing
- beautiful
- interesting
- for kids
- inspiring
- passionate
- new
- newly discovered
- creative
- imaginative
- exotic
- fun
- popular
- extraordinary
- english heritage
- historical
- romantic
- rare
- valuable
- ancient
- scarce
- massive
- exploited
- fragile
- urgent
- useful
- rare
- active
- landscapes
- collectable
- unusual
- old
- Kew overseas
- high
- royal
- donate
- for family
- gifts that help
- money saving
- popular
- remember
- save
- give money
- in urgent need
- sponsor
- Kew at home
- collections
- surveying
- wet tropics
- systematics
- chemistry
- diversity
- verge of extinction
- big
- useful plants
- mysterious
- give time
- treasures
- events
- Africa
- conserving
- fieldwork
- partnerships
- successes
- pretty
- fragrant
- wet
- dangerous
- high up
- essential
- drylands
- spiky
- brand new
- hot
- friends & family
- dry
- hot spot
- garden plants
- woodland
- business
- South East Asia
Plant & Fungi blogs from Kew
The cool blue seeds of the Malagasy traveller’s tree
by: Wolfgang Stuppy, Millennium Seed Bank blog 06 Mar 2012
Truly blue seeds are about as rare as hens’ teeth. In the first of his ‘Seed of the Month’ series, Millennium Seed Bank seed morphologist, Wolfgang Stuppy, explains why.
- 29 likes
- 4 comments
Studying yams in Madagascar
by: Tim Harris, Herbarium blog 27 Jan 2012
Kew and Feedback Madagascar are collaborating to look at the preferences for different species of edible yam in Madagascan rural communities. Find out about the latest research being undertaken as part of Kew's work in Madagascar.
- 9 likes
- 0 comments
Conservators care for tapa cloth at Kew
by: Daniel Barter & Cristina Liria, Economic Botany blog 15 Aug 2011
Two conservation students from Camberwell College of Arts have spent three weeks surveying barkcloth specimens from the Pacific.
- 5 likes
- 0 comments
Extinct to secure: how we saved Ascension’s endemic parsley fern
by: Colin Clubbe, UK Overseas Territories team blog 23 Dec 2010
In the space of 17 months, the status of the tiny Ascension Island parsley fern (Anogramma ascensionis) has gone from 'thought extinct' to 'secure' because of the amazing collaborative efforts of a small group of very dedicated people.
- 29 likes
- 1 comment
The cool blue seeds of the Malagasy traveller’s tree
by: Wolfgang Stuppy, Millennium Seed Bank blog 06 Mar 2012
Truly blue seeds are about as rare as hens’ teeth. In the first of his ‘Seed of the Month’ series, Millennium Seed Bank seed morphologist, Wolfgang Stuppy, explains why.
- 29 likes
- 4 comments
From Chelsea to Mount Fuji, the legacy of Veitch Nurseries
by: Virginia Mills, Library, Art and Archives blog 20 May 2011
Harry Veitch brought the RHS flower show to Chelsea. His brother brought Japanese flora to Europe. Find out more about the Veitch's from Kew's Directors' Correspondence collection.
- 19 likes
- 1 comment
