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Dendrobium kingianum Bidwill ex Lindl. 1844
Subspecies: n/a
Variant(s):n/a
Forma(s): n/a
Synonyms: n/a
Common name: Pink rock orchid
Derivation: Dendrobium - from the Greek, dendron, meaning a tree, and bios, meaning life; referring to the habit of living upon trees, since many of the species are epiphytes; kingianum - after P.P. King (1791-1856), an Australian rear admiral in the British Navy and an explorer.
Plant:
Flowers: There are many color forms of this species. The normal flower color is pink, but pure white and almost red forms are not uncommon. The foliage can also range from light green to dark purple.
Bloomtimes: Late winter throughout spring. August to October in its natural habitat.
Habitat: It grows exclusively on rock faces or among the decaying leaf litter in rock crevices.
Distribution: Dendrobium kingianum occurs naturally in an area along the east coast of Australia between Rockhampton in Queensland and the Hunter River in New SouthWales.
Culture: The nature of this plant lends it readily to cultivation and it is considered an excellent beginner's orchid. It can withstand a broad range of temperatures. It is a hardy plant often found growing on exposed cliff faces where it is subjected to direct sunlight and extreme heat radiated from the host rock surface. It may also be without water for months at a time. The canes (pseudobulbs) store water and enable the plant to survive these periods of stress. The spongy roots are adapted well to these conditions. They quickly absorb moisture and nutrients when these are available and as a result small amounts of rainfall and even dew are useful to the plant. During dry periods the roots remain viable and being white in colour reflect some heat. All these adaptive mechanisms enable the plant to survive in a seemingly hostile environment. A period of dryness during the winter is essential to get these plants to bloom in cultivation.
 Image by Joseph Dougherty |
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Distribution Map:
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 Image by Eric Hunt |
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