Dendrobium linguiforme Sw.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘A singular and we believe very rare Orchideous plant, first discovered by Sir J. Banks in the Pacific Islands, during Captain Cook’s celebrated voyage; afterwards found by Mr. Brown in New Holland, at Port Jackson: and lately fine growing plants were sent to us from Moreton Bay by Mr. Hill.  Cultivators of Orchideous plants will not despise this because it does not produce the gay and showy flowers which characterize so many of the family.  The leaves are very curious, thick, and fleshy, and almost resemble pseudobulbs, while the racemes of flowers are elegant and graceful, and, save the labellum, of an ivory-white colour.  It flowers with us in the winter months, and ought to succeed well in an ordinary greenhouse, seeing that the species is a native of Port Jackson, and found, according to Sir James Smith, “upon rocks on the sea-shore.”  That author, who figures it from a dry specimen, further remarks, “that the pretty delicate flowers, and the singularity of the stem and leaves, entitle it to a place in our conservatories, if a stone could be brought with the roots, and their mossy clothing undisturbed.”  We find it, however, succeed well on a piece of wood.’  [BM t.5249/1861].  Introduced to Britain in 1810.  [JD].

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues [O.20/1850].  Occurs naturally on the Camden Park estate typically growing on Iron Bark trees, Eucalyptus sideroxylon, and probably collected locally.

Notes