Dendrobium teretifolium R.Br.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘Although defined and published by Mr. Brown since 1810, this singular and well-marked species of Dendrobium does not appear to be anywhere figured, nor indeed anywhere recorded as being cultivated in England, except in the miscellaneous portion of Dr. Lindley’s ‘Botanical Register,’ the volume for 1839, during which year it flowered with Messrs. Loddiges.  It is a native of the vicinity of Port Jackson, New South Wales, and was lately sent to the Royal Gardens of Kew by Mr. Moore, of the Sydney Botanic Garden.  Its leaves are long and terete, and the flowers, from the long, straggling, slender petals, and curved labellum, have almost as much the appearance of an insect as of a flower.  Six other species of Dendrobium are recorded by Mr. Brown as natives of New Holland, and Mr. Allan Cunningham added seven others in an enumeration given in the ’ Botanical Register,’ above quoted, but of which three are marked doubtful as to genus, the flowers not having been seen, and one it is suggested may be a Polystachya.  Cultivated on a piece of wood suspended from the beam of a cool stove, the present species flowered vigorously with us in December, 1852.’  [BM t.4711/1853].

Paxton’s Magazine of Botany commented of a plant seen at Loddiges’ nursery: ‘Though not of recent introduction, it is, we believe, a scarce plant, and forms a very pretty object when suspended on a fragment of wood from the roof of the house.’  It is known to have flowered at Loddiges in 1839.  [MB p.70/1839].  Dendrobium teretifolium was introduced to Britain in 1823.  [JD].

History at Camden Park

Listed in the 1850 and 1857 catalogues under the name Dendrobium calamiforme [O.16/1850].  Also listed under the name Dendrobium teretifolium in a small notebook of Macarthur’s [MP A2947A].  Found in the Camden area and probably collected locally.

Notes