Schlechter 1981

Pronunciation:

mo-NAN-thos
Tribe: Epidendreae
Subtribe: Dendrobiinae

Species in the Section Monanthos are epiphytic or sometimes lithophytic and grow in moist rainforests or cool cloud forests at low to moderate or higher altitudes. The section is most closely related to the Genus or Section Grastidium, but the flowers last several days whereas species in Grastidiumlast for only one day. This section is poorly known, relatively ignored and hard to identify since the flowers are very similar. Species have long, slender stems and form large clumps with very thick roots. Leaves are in two ranks along the length of the stems and have a large sheathing base. The single flowers form at the leaf axils and are typically small, cup-shaped and non-resupinate. The lip is three-lobed. Several taxonomists stated that the section may be much larger with many previously unrecorded species.

Derived from monos meaning one and anthos meaning flower. Refers to the plants having only one flower on an inflorescence.

Culture: There are many species in this section which range from low to relatively high altitudes. The culture in the data below are averages. For growing data for specific species, literature, such as Reference 1 & 2, are highly recommended.

Number of species:

The Section has 23 or more species, including: Den. agrostophylloides, *Den. agrostophyllum, Den. bilobum, Den. corticicola, Den. crassinervium, Den. crenatilabre, Den. erectifolium, *Den. integrum, Den. isochiloides, Den. koordersii, Den. lamproglossum, Den. malbrownii, Den. obovatum, Den. piestocaulon, Den. poneroides, Den. procerum, Den. rhytidothece, Den. roseoflavidum, Den. subserratum, Den. xanthothece

Distribution:

New Guinea (center of distribution), Sulawesi (1), Ambon (1), Northeast Australia (1), and Bougainville (1) 
 

Dendrobium malbrownii 'Marie Selby' CBR-CCM/AOS - ©2009 AOS archives

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