Dendrobium is a genus of about 1,000 species, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia to Oceania. There are 74 species and 2 varieties in China, produced in the provinces south of the Qinling Mountains, especially in southern Yunnan.

Dendrobium is an epiphytic herb. The stems are clustered, rarely sparsely distributed on stolons, erect or pendulous, cylindrical or flattened triangular, unbranched or rarely branched, with a few or several nodes, sometimes one to several nodes expanded into various shapes. They are fleshy (also called pseudobulbs) or hard textured, with a few to many leaves.

Dendrobium leaves are alternate, flat, terete or flattened on both sides, unlobed or 2-lobed at the apex, articulated at the base, usually with a sheath and a stalk. Racemes or sometimes umbels, erect, inclined or pendulous, borne on nodes above the middle of the stem, with a few to many flowers, a few reduced to single flowers; flowers from small to large, usually spreading; sepals almost similar, free.