Dendrobium kingianum is an orchid native to parts of Australia where it can be found growing primarily on rocks and in rock crevices. More orchids are epiphytic (growing on other plants) or terrestrial (growing in the earth) than lithophytic (growing on stone) as this one does. It has special adaptations to survive in an environment where moisture is rapidly lost such as spongy roots which are white-colored to reflect excessive light and heat, and a swollen stem known as a pseudobulb which acts as a nutrient and moisture storage vessel to survive the dry winters. Those characteristics are fairly common among orchid genera, making them rather akin to common succulents which employ some similar techniques to survive in unpredictable and arid climates. While quite common in collections, this orchid is still a pleasant variation from the ubiquitous Phalaenopsis orchids which are what comes to most individuals’ minds when hearing the word ‘orchid.’
