Dendrobium adae, commonly known as the slender cane orchid,[1] is an epiphytic, sometimes lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has cylindrical pseudobulbs, up to four dark green leaves and up to six white or greenish to apricot-coloured flowers. It grows in tropical North Queensland, Australia.
Dendrobium adae is an epiphytic or lithophytic herb that has wiry, cylinder-shaped pseudobulbs NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and between two and four dark green leaves NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The flowering stem is NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and bears up to six resupinate white or greenish to apricot-coloured flowers NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The dorsal sepal is erect, oblong, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide. The lateral sepals are a curved triangular shape, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and about 5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The petals are lance-shaped, curved inwards and slightly shorter and narrower than the lateral sepals. The labellum is white with reddish markings, about 9sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and 5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide with short hairs and three lobes. The side lobes curve upwards and the middle lobe has a ridge along its midline. Flowering occurs between July and October.[2]
Dendrobium adae was first formally described in 1884 by Frederick Manson Bailey from a specimen collected near Herberton and the description was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland.[3] [4] The specific epithet (adae) is "in honour of Mrs. J. W R. Stuart" who collected the type specimen.
The slender cane orchid grows in rainforest and sheltered open forest between the Mount Windsor National Park and the Paluma Range National Park.