Common Name:

General Information

Dendrobium crumenatum is a robust, branched herb with slender, elongated stems 60 - 90 cm long[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is often grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea.

Habitat

An epiphyte growing in humid regions, or regions with a short dry season, in open forest and on wayside trees, sometimes on boulders, locally numerous; at elevations from sea-level up to 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.75 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant has a symbiotic relationship with a species of soil-dwelling fungus. It is important that spores of this fungus are present in any soil in which the plant is grown[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The pounded leaves and fruits are applied as a poultice on boils and pimples[, ].

The juice of the heated pseudo-bulbs is used to treat problems with infected ears[, ].

Trace alkaloids are found in the leaves and pseudobulbs[].
A study of the ethanol and methanol extracts showed anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and antioxidant activities which may be related to the changes in the content of total alkaloids[].

Other Uses

Fibres from the stems are used as decorative material in basket making and other crafts[].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow, preferably as soon as it is ripe, in a container and do not allow the compost to dry out. The seed of this species is extremely simple, it has a minute embryo surrounded by a single layer of protective cells. It contains very little food reserves and depends upon a symbiotic relationship with a species of soil-dwelling fungus. The fungal hyphae invade the seed and enter the cells of the embryo. The orchid soon begins to digest the fungal tissue and this acts as a food supply for the plant until it is able to obtain nutrients from decaying material in the soil[]. It is best to use some of the soil that is growing around established plants in order to introduce the fungus, or to sow the seed around a plant of the same species and allow the seedlings to grow on until they are large enough to move.
Stem cuttings - each must have a dormant bud[].

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