Another superb native orchid from the tropical north.

Splendid Orchid - Dendrobium superbiens - Photo by Bill Hinton

This species is a natural hybrid of COOKTOWN ORCHID (Dendrobium Bigibbum) and GOLDEN ORCHID (Dendrobium discolor) and has been recorded from the extreme northern tip of Cape York Peninsula and some of the Torres Strait Islands. It favours a rather exposed situation on rocks.

February to June is the main flowering period and colour ranges from pink to reddish mauve. An attractive characteristic of this orchid is the varying degree of twisting of the sepals and petals.