About Dendrobium discolor Lindl.
Dendrobium discolor Lindl. (common name antler orchid) is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid herb. It produces cylindrical green or yellowish pseudobulbs that measure 1–5 m (3 ft 3 in – 16 ft 5 in) long and 30–60 mm (1.2–2.4 in) wide, and occasionally grow over 8 cm (3 in) thick. Each plant bears between ten and thirty five leathery leaves, 60–160 mm (2.4–6.3 in) long and 30–80 mm (1.2–3.1 in) wide. Its flowering stem is 200–600 mm (7.9–23.6 in) long, and holds between eight and forty individual flowers that can be light brown, reddish brown, dark brown or yellowish. Each flower measures 30–80 mm (1.2–3.1 in) in both length and width, and has wavy, twisted sepals and petals. The sepals are 20–35 mm (0.79–1.38 in) long and 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) wide, while the petals are 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in) long and 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) wide. The labellum, which is 12–24 mm (0.47–0.94 in) long and 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) wide, has three main lobes and mauve to purple markings. The large side lobes spread outwards or curve upwards, and the middle lobe curves downwards, with wavy edges and at least three distinct ridges. Flowering of this species takes place from April to December. This orchid grows in coastal habitats including scrub, mangroves, coastal rainforest, and woodland, and sometimes grows on rocks. It is distributed in Queensland (including the islands of the Great Barrier Reef), New Guinea, and the Indonesian regions of the Maluku Islands and Sulawesi.
