Dendrobium polyanthum is budding... Photos here! - Orchid Board

TheEndPhase · #1 06-16-2009, 04:57 AM

I've attached a picture of buds and a pretty good look at the keiki that's just starting to throw out it's own roots. I'm eagerly awaiting the blooms themselves since I wasn't able to find any other pictures of this specie in this forum; as a newer, inexperienced member, I'm glad and exited to contribute something new.

I'll try to get a good sequence of photos showing the buds opening, but for sure there will be photos of the plant in full bloom. I regret not getting images of the buds emerging from the canes, though! I'd never seen images of buds emerging from cane-type dendrobiums, and, to me, it was a rather strange looking phase for the plant.

kiki-do · #2 06-16-2009, 05:41 AM

Very cool indeed! Keep us posted on it's progress. Wow, you are up early in the mornings!!!!

TheEndPhase · #3 06-17-2009, 03:02 AM

They're starting to pop open...

camille1585 · #4 06-17-2009, 05:25 AM

Wow, that's quick! In your first photos, to me they didn't look quite ready to open yet. Can't wait to see what they look like, I've never heard of this Den.

lostonthebeach · #5 06-17-2009, 01:57 PM

Very interesting. Keep the photos coming.

TheEndPhase · #6 06-17-2009, 03:09 PM

The Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia says that it's often called Dendrobium cretaceum, but that the specie name polyanthum has precedence. It also says that some people say it's conspecific with Dendrobium primulinum. I think it's too different to just be a variant of D. primulinum: they're flowers are totally different colors and the parts of the flowers are different in proportion. I think the habits of the canes vary slightly, as the canes of D. primulinum appear to zigzag between nodes more than D. polyanthum. Also, having seen both species in bloom, I think they smell different, though I don't know how much that matters in taxonomy.

Either way, the name mix-up with this plant has made it tricky to find culture info! For a long time I had no idea if I was doing what it liked, and I think for a while I wasn't, so I'm glad to finally see it doing well enough at least to bloom for me.

TheEndPhase · #7 06-18-2009, 02:17 AM

Two buds almost open... I'll be sure to use natural light when it's all fully open.

TheEndPhase · #8 06-22-2009, 11:56 PM

All buds are open! I'll post photos I take tomorrow when the sun is out.

TheEndPhase · #9 06-23-2009, 10:15 PM

So here it is - I kind of wish the cane had made more buds, but oh well. I think the ones it did make are well formed. Maybe the older canes still have buds to make - who knows.

quiltergal · #10 06-23-2009, 10:55 PM

Those are really pretty flowers Endphase. Nice growing! I especially like the lip with it's veining.