Dendrochilum pallidiflavens Blume, Bijdr. 399 (1825)

Synonyms
Bulbophyllum pteriphilum Rolfe
Dendrochilum conopseum Ridl. ex Stapf
Dendrochilum album Ridl.
Dendrochilum ellipticum Ridl.
Dendrochilum micranthum Schltr.
Dendrochilum pteriphilum (Rolfe) Pfitzer in H.G.A.Engler (ed.)
Dendrochilum intermedium Ridl.
Dendrochilum spathulatum Ridl.
Dendrochilum weberi Ames
Dendrobium ridleyi Ames
Dendrochilum bulbophylloides Schltr.
Dendrochilum brevilabratum var. petiolatum J.J.Wood

Description
The rhizome is long, creeping and can branch; the pseudobulbs are spaced 1.0-7.5cm apart. The pseudobulbs are shaped conical to cylindrical and measure 1.5-5.2cm long and 0.3-0.5cm in diameter. The pseudobulbs are covered by 3-7 cataphylls while they are growing. The cataphylls soon disintegrate into non-persistent fibres as the pseudobulbs mature. The leaf is petiolate; the petiole measures 0.1-0.8cm long. The leaf blades range in shape and can be lanceolate, linear-lanceolate, narrowly elliptic, oblong-elliptic and have apices that are obtuse or acute. The inflorescence emerges from the base of a pseudobulb and does not develop into a new growth. The inflorescence is usually erect but can arch. The inflorescence measures 12.5-15cm long. The flowers alternate distichously and are spaced 2.0-3.0mm apart. Flowers open from the proximal section of the rachis. The flowers open widely and the colours vary from white with a greenish tinge, white, greenish-white and yellow. Up to 50 flowers have been recorded growing on one inflorescence, the flower measures approximately 6mm across.

Ecology
Growing up to 1800 m elevation. This species is widespread and prefers lower elevations than other Dendrochilum in subgenus Dendrochilum. This species can form very big clumps that hang off of trees in high rainfall lowland and montane rainforest. At higher elevations this species has been found growing amongst or on rocks. In the Philippines this species has been found growing in mangroves. On Borneo this species can be found in dipterocarp forest, hill forest on limestone and sandstone, and wet kerangas forest and many other types of forests on a variety of substrates.

Uses

Distribution
From Burma to Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Philippines.

Local names