Family: Orchidaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Dendrobium crumenatum, commonly known as dove orchid or pigeon orchid, is a tropical orchid native to Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and surrounding regions. It is a small to medium-sized epiphytic orchid that grows on trees and occasionally on rocks. The plant produces slender, cane-like stems with alternating leaves and is best known for its fragrant white flowers, each marked with a distinctive dove-shaped lip. One of its most remarkable traits is its synchronized blooming: large numbers of plants may flower simultaneously about a week after a sudden drop in temperature, often following rainfall. Because of its attractive blooms and ease of cultivation, dove orchid is widely grown as an ornamental in gardens and on trees in warm climates.

Risks & Threats
Dove orchid is naturalized on Oʻahu, where it has established populations outside of cultivation. However, it is currently considered low risk in Hawaiʻi. While it can spread locally by seed and establish on trees in urban and suburban areas, it has not demonstrated significant invasive behavior or widespread impacts to native forests. Most populations are associated with disturbed habitats, landscaped areas, or non-native host trees. Although continued monitoring is appropriate to ensure it does not expand into sensitive native ecosystems, at this time Dendrobium crumenatum is not known to pose substantial ecological threats in the Hawaiian Islands.

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives in tropical climates
  
• Naturalized on Oahu (Hawaiian Islands), Puerto Rico and possibly elsewhere
  
• May compete with native orchids in the Seychelles
  
• Other Dendrobium species may be weeds
  
• Reproduces by seeds
  
• Seeds dispersed by wind and intentionally by people
  
• Prolific seed production

Low Risk Traits:

• No negative impacts documented to date
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Ornamental and medicinal uses
  
• Reported to be self-incompatible
  
• Reaches maturity in 5-7 years in natural conditions
  
• Epiphytic habit may limit dispersal vectors to wind or intentional planting