Dendrobium nobile

Dendrobium nobile, also known as the noble dendrobium, is a member of the family Orchidaceae. It is one of the most widespread ornamental members of the orchid family. It is the state flower of the Indian state of Sikkim.

Description

Dendrobium nobile is a sympodial orchid that forms pseudobulbs. When one stem ceases growing, new shoots arise from the base. This cycle continues, forming a clump of stems. Its inflorescence is erect, with blooms forming along the length of the flowering stem. It has strap-shaped, persistent leaves and blooms mostly in winter and spring, producing short, 2 to 4-flowered racemes. The flowers are fragrant, waxy, and highly variable in color, ranging from white to pink and purple. The many different cultivated varieties produce blooms of different sizes and colors.

Distribution

Dendrobium nobile is an epiphytic or lithophytic plant native to southern China (including Tibet), the Himalayas (India, Bangladesh, Assam, Nepal, Bhutan), and Indochina (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam). The species is also reportedly naturalized in Hawaii. Dendrobium nobile occurs in lowland and mountain forests, often on mossy limestone rocks.