Dendrobium densiflorum

Dendrobium densiflorum, is a species of epiphytic or lithophytic orchid, native to Asia. It has club-shaped stems, three or four leathery leaves and densely flowered, hanging bunches of relatively large pale yellow and golden yellow flowers.

Dendrobium densiflorum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Orchidaceae
Subfamily:	Epidendroideae
Genus:	Dendrobium
Species:	D. densiflorum
Binomial name
Dendrobium densiflorum Lindl.[1]
Synonyms[1]
Callista densiflora (Lindl.) Kuntze Epidendrum dumunsuttu Buch.-Ham. ex Lindl. Dendrobium clavatum Roxb. Endeisa flava Raf. Dendrobium schroederi B.S.Williams Dendrobium densiflorum f. parviflorum Regel Dendrobium densiflorum var. clavatum Rolfe

Description

Dendrobium densiflorum is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid with stems that are club-shaped, swollen at the base, 250–400 mm (10–20 in) long and about 20 mm (0.8 in) wide. There are three or four leathery, oblong to lance-shaped leaves 80–170 mm (3–7 in) long and 26–40 mm (1–2 in) wide near the end of the stem. A large number of flowers are densely packed around a hanging flowering stem 60–160 mm (2–6 in) long. Each flower has a greenish white pedicel and ovary 20–25 mm (0.8–1 in) long. The flowers are 30–40 mm (1–2 in) wide with pale yellow sepals and petals and a golden yellow labellum. The sepals are lance-shaped to egg-shaped, 17–21 mm (0.7–0.8 in) long and 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide. The petals are almost round, 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long and 11–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide with irregular edges on the outer half. The labellum is more or less square to round, 17–22 mm (0.7–0.9 in) long and wide with a partly woolly surface. The edges of the labellum surround the column.^[2]

Taxonomy and naming

Dendrobium densiflorum was first formally described in 1830 by John Lindley and the description was published in Nathaniel Wallich's book, Plantae Asiaticae rariores.^[1][3]

Distribution and habitat

Mi hua shi hu grows in the trunks of broadleaved, evergreen trees and on rocks in mountain valleys at elevations between 400 and 1,000 m (1,000 and 3,000 ft). It is found in China, Bhutan, northeastern India, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand.^{[2][4][5][6][7]}

Dendrobium guibertii and D. amabile are similar species and sometimes confused with D. densiflorum, leading to uncertainty as to the distribution of this species.^[2]

Uses

Chemical compounds useful in medicine, including phenanthrenes have been extracted from this orchid.^[8][9]

Dendrobium densiflorum has been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a yin tonic, where its main function was to nourish the stomach and promote the production of body fluids.^[10]

Dendrobium densiflorum contains several bioactive compounds, such as phenanthrenes, which play a crucial role in the plant's defense mechanisms, and densiflorol A and B, as well as structures such as dendrodolrin, extracted from the plant's stem. These compounds have potential uses for pharmacological and medicinal applications.^[10]

Genetics

Genetic studies have examined the chloroplast genome of Dendrobium densiflorum, revealing a circular DNA molecule. Based on this, chloroplast analysis has provided valuable information on the phylogenetic relationships of orchids, improving scientific understanding of their diversity and adaptation to harsh environments.^[11][12]