Dendrobium

Dendrobium is a large genus of orchids, tribe Malaxideae, subfamily Epidendroideae, family Orchidaceae, comprising more than 1,800 species, most of them epiphytic or lithophytic, with roots that creep over the surface of trees or rocks rather than growing in soil. Plants are sympodial herbs with cylindrical roots and pseudobulbs, producing one to many leaves arranged in two ranks that are typically much longer than wide, and flowers that may be white, green, yellow or pink to purple, often with contrasting colors in the labellum. The genus is native throughout much of south, east and southeast Asia, including China, Japan, India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, New Guinea, Vietnam and many Pacific islands, and has adapted to environments ranging from high-altitude Himalayan regions to lowland tropical forests and Australian desert climates.