Dendrobium coriaceum, commonly known as the inland rock orchid,[1] is a species of lithophytic orchid that is endemic to North Queensland. It has tapered pseudobulbs, up to three thick, leathery leaves and up to forty yellow or cream-coloured flowers with purple markings on the labellum.
Dendrobium coriaceum is a lithophytic herb with spreading roots and tapering green to reddish pseudobulbs NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. Each pseudobulb has up to three thick, leathery, dark green leaves originating from its top, the leaves NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. Between twenty and forty cream-coloured to yellow flowers NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide are arranged on a flowering stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long. The dorsal sepal is oblong, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide. The lateral sepals are NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide and strongly curved. The petals are linear to oblong, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and about 2sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The labellum is cream-coloured with reddish purple streaks, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and wide with three lobes. The sides lobes are erect and curved and the middle lobe has a more or less square-cut tip. Flowering occurs between August and October.[2]
The inland rock orchid was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones and Mark Clements from a specimen collected near Yeppoon. It was given the name Thelychiton coriaceus and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[3] In 2014, Julian Shaw changed the name to Dendrobium coriaceum.[4] The specific epithet (coriaceum) is a Latin word meaning "of leather",[5] referring to the leaves and fleshy flowers.
Dendrobium coriaceum grows on rocks and cliffs on the Blackdown Tableland and in Carnarvon National Park in Queensland.