Dendrobium limpidum 'Ashley'

Dendrobium limpidum is from New Guinea and belongs to the Pedilonum section of the very large Dendrobium genus. This group of Dendrobiums have arching or pendant canes and most of them are quite large. This plant is one of the smallest in the group.

The canes are about 10 cm in length and produce clusters of rather small flowers that impress more by their bright color and number than by their individual beauty. The flowers are less than 2 cm but come in clusters of around 15 flowers.

Like the other plants in the Pedilonum section the flowers tend to be more or less tubular. In this case the flowers are not only tubular but do not open very far and have a lip that curls up to block most of the open end of the flowers.

One very nice thing about this species is that the older canes continue to produce flowers for several years, though the new canes do not bloom the first year. The older canes eventually lose their leaves but will even then continue to produce flowers.

There is an inset photo showing the whole plant, some of the canes which still have their leaves and the fat little canes that are blooming. This plant has been awarded several times by the American Orchid Society, thus the clonal name.