Dendrobium × usitae, or Usita's dendrobium, is a species of epiphytic orchid endemic to the Philippines.[2] It is a natural hybrid between D. bullenianum and D. goldschmidtianum and can be easily distinguished from both species by its purplish orange flower. The specific epithet honors Villamor T. Usita[3] of Quezon City, who discovered the species from Calayan, one of the five major islands of Babuyan archipelago. In its native habitat, the plant grows hanging on trees at an elevation of 500 to 700 meters above sea level alongside its parent species. The pendulous stem of D. × usitae can reach a length of 60 centimeters.[4]

Dendrobium × usitae
Photo of Dendrobium × usitae purplish orange flowers
Dendrobium × usitae flowering on leafless cane
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Genus: Dendrobium
Species:
D. × usitae
Binomial name
Dendrobium × usitae

References

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  1. ^ "Dendrobium usitae". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Harvard University Herbaria & Libraries; Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  2. ^ "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
  3. ^ Yukawa, Tomohisa (1995). "Dendrobium × usitae - A New Natural Hybrid from the Philippines" (PDF). Ann. Tsukuba Bot. Gard. 14: 43–46. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  4. ^ Kurzweil, Hubert; Wing, Yam Tim (January 2008). "From The Orchid Species Collection: Dendrobium × usitae" (PDF). Gardenwise, The Newsletter of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. 30: 34. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
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