Dendrobium nobile (noble dendrobium)

This species occurs largely in deciduous forests between 1,500 and 2,000 m elevation in the foothills of the Himalayas and surrounding areas. It is recorded from India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Laos and Vietnam. It prefers bright sunlight, which is provided by deciduous trees which lose their leaves in the autumn.

The pseudobulbs (bulb-like above-ground stems) of Dendrobium nobile are swollen at the nodes, giving a jointed appearance, and grow up to 60 cm long in upright clusters. The leaves are bright green, strap-shaped and slightly leathery. Leaves are borne alternately at nodes along most of the length of the stem.

The fragrant, waxy flowers are 5-7 cm in diameter and are variable in colour. The base of the petals is pale pink or white, grading into a stronger amethyst-purple colour towards the tip. The lip is velvety with a rich maroon-purple basal part, surrounded by a paler yellowish white area. The flowers normally appear in late winter to spring and can last up to six weeks.

Dendrobium nobile is an immensely popular ornamental orchid; plant breeders have raised numerous cultivars with showy inflorescences.

It is also valued in traditional Chinese medicine. It is used to nourish and stimulate the stomach. A tea made from the stems of this and other Dendrobium species is taken for complaints such as fever, sunstroke and excessive perspiration.

Scientists have isolated several compounds from the stem and leaves, including dendrobine, dendroxine, dendrin and other alkaloids. Phenanthrenes from Dendrobium nobile have shown anti-tumour activity in laboratory tests on cancer cells. Sesquiterpene glycosides isolated from the stem affect lymphocyte cells, indicating possible immunomodulatory effects. Gigantol isolated from Dendrobium nobile has shown antimutagenic properties.

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership aims to save plant life worldwide, focusing on plants under threat and those of most use in the future. Seeds are dried, packaged and stored at a sub-zero temperature in our seed bank vault at Wakehurst Place.

Number of seed collections stored in the Millennium Seed Bank: 2
Seed storage behaviour: Orthodox (the seeds of this plant survive being dried without significantly reducing their viability, and are therefore amenable to long-term frozen storage such as at the MSB).

Dendrobium nobile is grown in the Tropical Nursery, which is not accessible to the public. However In February and March 2010, this plant can be seen as part of the Tropical Extravaganza festival in the Princess of Wales Conservatory.

More about the orchid family (Orchidaceae)

Science & research at Kew - find out more about the work of Kew's orchid team

Kew discoveries - new species of orchid discovered in the mountains of Borneo

See orchids and other tropical plants at Kew's annual Tropical Extravanganza festival

Search Kew's databases for more information on this species