Characteristics of the genus: These small epiphytic plants resemble the genus Sarcochilus in vegetative habit. D. barbellata has white flowers which are violet-pink inside and the lip has an orange-yellow callus, while the flowers of D. minor are rose-red, paler inside and with brown-red spots.

Habitat: one species from the lowlands (D. singularis), all others grow as epiphytes in mountain forests between 1,000 and 1,700 m altitude.

Conservation s are violet-pink inside and the lip has an orange-yellow callus, while the flowers of D. minor are rose-red, paler inside and with brown-red spots.

Habitat: one species from the lowlands (D. singularis), all others grow as epiphytes in mountain forests between 1,000 and 1,700 m altitude.

Conservation status: The plants are of sporadic occurence in the wild, they grow in remote places, which even nowadays are inaccessible for various reasons, and they flower for such a short time that even if you are lucky enough to discover a living plant the propability that it happens to be in flower is only around 2 percent. To the best of our knowledge, two species, D. minor Schltr. and D. dasystele Schuit. & de Vogel, are only kow from single specimen, D. huliorum (Schuit.) Christenson & Schuit. has bee fond twice, while D. barbellata Schltr. and D. singularis (J.J. Sm.) Christenson & Schuit. have been found on three occasions.

(excerpted from "A new species of Dryadorchis from Papua New Guinea" by Andre Schuiteman & Ed F. de Vogel published in 'Journal fuer den Orchideenfreund, Vol. 11, issue 3/2004)

NEW SPECIES DISCOVERED:

Dryadorchis dasystele Schuit. & de Vogel 2004
published in 'Journal fuer den Orchideenfreund, Vol. 11, issue 3/2004. Discovered on Mt.. Bapaoto (1,200 - 1,300 m) , Tapini, Central Province by Ed de Vogel and Art Vogel in December 2002.

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PLEASE NOTE: The photo of Dryadorchis huliorum is one of many superb images contained in