Huoshan Dendrobium (scientific name: Dendrobium huoshanense C.Z.Tang et S.J.Cheng), commonly known as rice huoshan, Huoshan rice huoshan, Huoshihu, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Orchidaceae Dendrobium. It is a Chinese endemic plant and a national first-class protected plant. Huoshan Dendrobium is a precious Chinese medicinal dendrobium. Since ancient times, it has been highly praised by doctors of all generations for its superior quality.
The stem of Huoshan Dendrobium is erect, unbranched, fleshy, light yellow-green, generally 3-12 cm long, gradually tapering from the base to the top, shaped like a grasshopper’s leg; the leaves are thin leathery, 2-3 alternately arranged at the upper part of the stem, and are oblong in shape; the inflorescence is in the form of a raceme, with 1-3 small flowers, emerging from the upper part of the old stem after the leaves fall, the flowers are light yellow-green to white, the petals are ovate-oblong, and the tip is blunt; the lip is nearly rhombus-shaped, with length and width approximately equal; the flowering period is April-May, and the capsule is nearly elliptical, generally with 3-5 longitudinal ridges.
Huoshan Dendrobium prefers a cool, humid, ventilated, breathable, and diffused light environment. It is relatively cold-resistant, but not resistant to high temperatures and drought. It is afraid of stagnant water and strong direct sunlight; it generally blooms after 3 years of growth[3]; it grows on tree trunks in mountain forests and on rocks in valleys, and is mainly distributed in Huoshan County, Anhui Province and southwestern Henan Province[5]. Huoshan Dendrobium has high medicinal value and has the effects of anti-oxidation, anti-aging, lowering blood sugar, lowering blood lipids, and improving the body’s immunity.
Basic information
Chinese name: Huoshan Dendrobium
Order: Microtiales
Latin name: Dendrobium huoshanense C. Z. Tang et S. J. Cheng
Other names: Rice Dendrobium, Dragon Head Phoenix Tail Grass, Emperor Grass
Family: Orchidaceae
Kingdom: Plant Kingdom
Phylum: Angiosperms
Genus: Dendrobium
Class: Monocots
Species: Huoshan Dendrobium
Named by: Cheng, 1984
Geographical Indication: Geographical Indication Protection of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine
Protection Level: Level I
Morphological characteristics
Huoshan Dendrobium has an erect, fleshy stem, 3-9 cm long, gradually tapering from the base to the top, 3-18 mm thick above the base, unbranched, with 3-7 nodes, 3-8 mm long internodes, light yellow-green, sometimes with light purple-red spots, and light yellow after drying. The leaves are leathery, 2-3 pieces alternately arranged at the top of the stem, obliquely arranged, ligulate-oblong, 9-21 cm long, 5-7 mm wide, with obtuse and slightly concave apex, and a sheath at the base that clasps the stem; the leaf sheath is membranous and persistent.
There are 1-3 racemes, which arise from the upper part of the old stems that have lost their leaves, and have 1-2 flowers; the peduncle is 2-3 mm long, with 1-2 sheaths at the base; the sheaths are papery, ovate-lanceolate, 3-4 mm long, with a sharp tip; the bracts are light white with chestnut, ovate, 3-4 mm long, with a sharp tip; the pedicels and ovary are light yellow-green, 2-2.7 cm long; the flowers are light yellow-green, spreading; the middle sepals are ovate-lanceolate, 12-14 mm long, 4-5 mm wide, with obtuse apex and 5 veins; the lateral sepals are sickle-lanceolate, 12-14 mm long, 5-7 mm wide, with obtuse apex and skewed base; the calyx capsule is nearly rectangular, 5-7 mm long, and the end is nearly rounded.
Petals are ovate-oblong, usually 12-15 mm long, 6-7 mm wide, obtuse at the apex, with 5 veins; lip is nearly rhombic, about equal in length and width, 1-1.5 cm, cuneate at the base and with a callus, slightly 3-lobed at the top, densely covered with short hairs between the lobes on both sides, and densely covered with white hairs near the base; middle lobe is semicircular triangular, nearly obtuse at the apex, densely covered with white hairs at the base and with a yellow transverse elliptical patch; column is light green, about 4 mm long, with a 7 mm long column foot; column foot is yellow at the base, densely covered with white hairs, occasionally with teeth on both sides; cap is green-white, nearly hemispherical, 1.5 mm long, and slightly concave at the apex. Flowering period is May.
Main varieties
This species is very similar to Dendrobium moniliforme (L.) Sw., the difference is that the stem of this species is shorter, swollen above the base, and then gradually tapers upwards, and the lobes in the lip are semicircular triangles, which are easy to distinguish.
Growth habits
Huoshan Dendrobium is an unevolved aerial orchid plant, and its growth conditions are extremely harsh. The altitude within the protection range is 300 to 900 meters, and the environment is cool, humid and ventilated. It grows mostly on cliffs beside rivers, ditches and valleys, and is often epiphytic with mosses, stone reeds and other plants. It likes a cool, humid, ventilated and foggy microclimate. It starts to grow at a temperature of 14℃, and the temperature is 20-26℃ and the air humidity is above 80%; if the temperature is above 30℃ and the relative humidity is below 20%, the leaf veins turn yellow, the leaves droop, and the stems shrink; if there is too much water seepage in the cliff cracks, it is easy to rot and die.
Distribution range
Grown on tree trunks in mountain forests and rocks in valleys. Originated in southwestern Henan (Nanzhao) and southwestern Anhui (Huoshan), China.
