Bushwalk Australia

I'm not sure if this is the right place to put this question but here goes: I was given a half-dead looking piece of orchid last year and now it has grown into this, I'm not sure what it is, it has not yet flowered, I only know it is not any of the native orchids I am familiar with. Any advice from any of the orchid growing bushwalkers as to what species it is?

Is it a Sydney Rock Orchid? Will have pink flowers if it is I think.

Sure looks like a Dendrobium Speciosum. They look magnificent when a really large one flowers. Useful info here: https://www.australianorchids.com.au/pa ... ock-orchid

Thanks oldpiscator and michaelp.

No definitely not a Dendrobium speciosum. The Sydney rock orchid doesn't have those leaves coming out mid stem and/or a sectioned bulb stem like that. It just has the one bulb like stem with leaves from the top.

It does look like it is is one of the Dendrobium family but there are so many species in that family with these segmented fleshy stems that it is difficult to tell them apart until they flower. Suspect it may be Dendrobium nobile, as this is pretty common, but it could well be Dendrobium officinale, Dendrobium anosmum, dendrobium parishii,Dendrobium moniliforme or a number of others - all have that segmented stem.....

Size of the plant and flower shape and colour will help you identify when you get that it may become clearer

Enjoy it - I find some of these lesser known varieties are fantastic, hardy and pretty much look after themselves!

Thank you Fiona. I have various Dendrobium growing, including D. Speciosum and D. Kingiianum, and it looks different to these as you correctly pointed out, especially how the leaves sprout from each segment of the pseudobulb. No doubt I will find out as it grows bigger and hopefully flowers, wait and see

Well, it has taken more than two years and now my mystery orchid had finally flowered. I'm still not sure what it is or even if it is an Australian native. I'm wondering if it is a Cooktown orchid, does anyone recognise it? Fiona Shedden - maybe you know?

Try uploading your photo here: https://lens.google.com

Cheers,
Michael.

Thanks Michael - good suggestion. Google Lens has informed me that it is Dendrobium Nobile whichever is endemic to China and parts of SE Asia, I'm a bit disappointed that it is not an Australuan native plant but I still like it

Australian that is.