Dendrobium lawesii F. Muell. 1884 is an epiphytic growing, medium sized orchid species, native to the island of New Guinea.

The orchid species has been described by the German- Australian physician, geographer and botanist Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller (30. June 1825 – 10. October 1896) in the year 1884 and has been named in honour to the English-born Congregationalist minister, missionary and public lecturer William George Lawes (1. July 1839 – 6. August 1907). As Laws moved to settle in the capital of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby in 1874, he and his family became the first permanent European residents there. He was an expert in the Motuan language, a friend of all the south coast tribes and produced the first book in Papuan language. Dendrobium lawesii requires cool - warm temperatures and is best cultivated in hanging baskets or mounted on tree fern. During the winter rest watering should be restricted. The very long-lasting flowers get a size of a bit more than 1 cm and are known in several colors, from pink and orange, to red, violet and bi-colored. Flowering period: all around the year. Dendrobium lawesii orchids are protected by CITES Appendix II (trade controlled to avoid use incompatible with species survival).

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Image: Dendrobium lawesii
Photographer: Kitisak “Nat” Jaidee