Schlechter

Pronunciation:

ma-kro-KLAD-i-um
Tribe: Epidendreae
Subtribe: Dendrobiinae

The name is derived from macro meaning large and clados (klados) meaning twig or branch. These terrestrial orchids have tall, slender cane-like stems.The section Macrocladium is in the Subgenus Xerobium, which is described as plants with stems that are wiry, dry, and always slender. Some taxonomists have moved most of the species in this section to the Genus Cannaeorchis Clem. & Jones with one species Den. winika moved to the monotypic genus, Winika. The species in this section are terrestrial and are large branching plants which are "bamboo-like". They grow in low to moderate altitudes in areas of scrubland or at the edges of stunted forests, where there is high light and a marked seasonal variation. The stems are wiry, greatly elongated (4 to 5 meters) and branched. Leaves are narrow, and alternately arranged in two ranks along the length of the stem. The small to medium flowers are one to many on an inflorescence and are formed on the youngest growths. Lip is tri-lobed with several ridges along the surface and distinctive side lobes. The flowers have a prominent mentum. They are related to Section Kinetochilus and to the Genus Grastidium.

Culture: The culture in the data below are averages. For growing data for specific species, literature, such as Reference 1 & 2, are recommended.

Note: *Den. (syn. Winika) cunninghamii has been moved to a monotypic genus, Winika. It is questionable whether it belongs in Section Macrocladium since it is epiphytic or lithophytic, not terrestrial and is not endemic to New Caledonia, where all the other species of this section reside. It may properly be within Genus Dendrobium, but not in this section. It does, however, have slender canes, but much shorter than the four to five meters of the other species. This plant is difficult to grow and close attention should be made of its cultural requirements. Den. cunninghamii requires 34 to 48 degrees nighttime average and 49 to 66 degrees daytime average, with a diurnal range of 15 to 18 degrees.See Reference 2 for growing this species.

Number of species:

The Section has 11 or 12 species: Den. sarcochilus, Den. sarcochilus var. megalorhizum, Den. polycladium, Den. polycladium var. atractoglossum, Den. cymatoleguum, Den. polycladium var. polycladium, Den. deplanchei, Den. verruciferum, *Den. (syn. Winika) cumminghamii, Den.. fractiflexum, Den.. steatoglossum, Den. vandifolium

Distribution:

Endemic to New Caledonia, *New Zealand (1 species) 

--- C U L T U R E ---