Robust epiphyte. Pseudobulbs spindle-shaped, to 80 cm long, clustered. Leaves numerous, oblong to elliptic, to 15 cm long, to 4 cm wide, fleshy or leathery. Flowers 3-15, to 4 cm wide, mostly white, petals greenish. Sepals lanceolate, often twisted. Petals linear, erect, twisted, longer than sepals. Labellum 3-lobed, side lobes embracing column, midlobe almost round, labellum with purple veins; summer to spring.

Occasionally cultivated are:

D. canaliculatum R. Br. var. canaliculatum, which is a medium sized epiphyte with short, thick, spindle-shaped pseudobulbs and flowers with twisted perianth segments that are cream or tan at the base and brown at the tip. Syn. D. canaliculatum R. Br. var. nigrescens Nicholls

D. johannis Rchb. f., which is a medium sized epiphyte with spindle-shaped pseudobulbs and purplish flowers that have twisted perianth segments

D. tangerinum Cribb, which is a robust epiphyte with moderately long cane-like pseudobulbs and often bright yellow or reddish flowers with twisted perianth segments.

New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Australia.

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.