Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Dendrobium albosanguineum Lindl. & Paxt.

Frost tender orchid with very variable pseudobulbs, from very small to 30cm long and 5cm thick, and racemes of 2-7 creamy-white flowers, to 10cm across, with red streaks at the base of the petals and 1 or 2 large reddish-crimson blotches at the base of the lip, in summer.  [RHSD, Hortus].

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘Paxton’s representation of this rare Dendrobium, exhibits the flowers twice the size of ours, and the peduncles one- to two-flowered, coming out of old withered pseudobulbs; but Dr. Lindley’s notes which accompany it, throw suspicion on that figure, which is probably made up from imperfect dried specimens; for he says, “If it really forms racemes (as stated by Lobb), it will have to be removed from the section Eudendrobium, to Stachyobium.”  It is a native of Attran River, in Moulmein, and was imported by Messrs. Veitch and Sons, of the Exeter and Chelsea Nurseries.  Our plant flowered in the stove of the Royal Gardens in April, 1859.’  [BM t.5130/1859]. 

Introduced to Britain in 1851.  [JD].  Flow. Gard. ii 93/1851-52.  FS f.721/1852.  

History at Camden Park

The only reference to this plant is a hand written entry in a copy of the 1850 catalogue held at the Mitchell Library [ML 635.9m].  This copy bears William Macarthur’s signature and the date 23rd Dec. 1854.  It did not appear in the printed 1857 edition but was certainly grown in the gardens at this time.

Notes

Published Jan 24, 2010 - 05:10 PM | Last updated Jan 24, 2010 - 05:15 PM

Figured are stem, leaves and creamy white flowers with red and yellow markings.  Curtis's Botanical Magazine t.5130, 1859.

Dendrobium albosanguineum Lindl. & Paxt. | BM t.5130/1859 | BHL

Family Orchidaceae
Category
Region of origin

Burma

Synonyms
Common Name
Name in the Camden Park Record

Dendrobium albosanguineum 

Confidence level high