Dendrobium

When we came down to breakfast this morning, Captain Hope was not to be found and many were the conjectures as to what had become of him, at last someone said ‘Tacking Point’ and sure enough about half past ten he returned, with a large bunch of beautiful white flowers for me to paint (orchids), so I set to work immediately determined to do my best. I sat in my own room and darkened the lower part of my window and painted most of the day, while Margaret read ‘Quentin Durward’ — happily the result was satisfactory to all, and critic pronounced that it would do very well.

Monday 29 January 1844
  View diary entry Excerpt from Annabella’s journal, 29 January 1844
  Zoom Annabella’s watercolour of dendrobium

Dendrobium aemulum

Family

Orchidaceae

Common name

White feather orchid, ironbark orchid

Dendrobium is a type of orchid found throughout Asia and the Pacific. This particular species is a native Australian orchid found in rainforest areas and coastal areas in New South Wales and Queensland. The word ‘dendrobium’ derives from two Greek words, dendron, meaning ‘tree’, and bios, meaning ‘life’, hence ‘one who lives on trees’.

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