Medium to large epiphyte or epilith. Pseudobulbs cylindrical, to 1.2 cm long, often purplish. Leaves 3?12, ovate to lanceolate, to 15 cm long, to 3.5 cm wide, soon falling. Flowers 2-20, to 7 cm wide, mauve to lilac; summer to spring. Sepals ovate to lanceolate. Petals broad-ovate, clawed, much wider than sepals. Labellum 3- lobed, side lobes embracing column, midlobe oblong, often pointed. D. bigibbum Lindl. var. superbum Rchb. f.

Occasionally cultivated are:

D. bigibbum Lindl., which is similar to D. phalaenopsis but the flowers are generally smaller, the perianth segments curved backwards more strongly and the labellum callus is white.

D. williamsianum Rchb. f., which is a robust epiphyte with pale mauve nodding flowers and a dark purple labellum with pale margins.

Qld.

Source: Jeanes, J. (2005). Orchidaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press. (as Dendrobium phalaenopsis)