Dendrobium anceps Swartz.

Epiphyte. Stems erect, compressed and as long as 15 to 30 cm and 1 to 2 cm in width. Leaves shortly ensiform, coriaceous, lanceolate, acute with overlapping (equitant) bases, 2 to 4 cm long and 1 to 2 cm in width. Flowers axillary and produced singly on small floral bracts, lateral. Flowers 2 cm across, greenish yellow with reddish brown markings and shades on the disc of the lip and its underside. Sepals unequal, elliptic, obtuse with the lateral ones clasped together at the base and much larger than the dorsal. Petals much narrower than the sepals, spreading, elliptic and blunt. Lip oblong, slightly decurved, the edges entire in the lower portion and crisped in the upper part.

Dendrobium anceps, Swartz
Dendrobium anceps Swartz

The Pursuit

Due to its over collection for commercial purposes, this species almost disappeared from its natural habitats. In my 3 to 4 years of flower hunt in the region I had come across only a few plants of this species from the wild. It is a native of tropical valleys and the forest fires, a common feature of summer days, had almost destroyed most of its habitats. Luckily I got this species 4 years back and decided to document it the next blooming season itself, as I predict a new dam construction near to its habitat will make all the trees disappear sooner or later. For three continuous years, part of my study tours I regularly visited North East states during April and May. In the year 2011 I added this species also to my agenda. My anxiety was whether the plant will be there or not? After crossing the first hurdle with happiness, then it was to find out the buds and its blooming dates. The plants were at an height of 35 to 50 ft up on tall trees and the buds were on the other side of the stem which prevented a good view from the ground. To ascertain the buds, every day I climbed those rough tall trees, badly bruising my thighs. The temperature on those tropical valleys was also very high which make one exhausted at a quick pace. Mostly with vanishing species, I have to put extra efforts to document it. This species was one of that category. Finally, after several visits and unending climbs, I found them in bloom. To produce perfect photographs on top of a tall tree with not much support is also a very difficult work. The camera, flashes and its accessories together make up a more than a few kilos and handling them at those heights need much courage and experience. Those were my class room days and I was not a good “jungle man” to handle all those tricky things on top of a tall tree. However, the photograph I got was a perfect one, that also without much hurt.