Kew’s Plants of the World Online accepts Dendrobium denneanum Kerr in Orchidaceae. It describes the species as a pseudobulbous epiphyte occurring mainly in subtropical biomes. Its native range extends from the Himalaya to southern China and Indo-China; the distribution list includes Assam, south-central and south-eastern China, the eastern Himalaya, Hainan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, and the western Himalaya. Epiphytes attach to tree trunks or branches and sometimes grow on rock; they are not plants whose roots should be buried deeply in an ordinary garden bed.

The Chinese name 叠鞘石斛 is romanized Dieqiao Shihu. A Chinese geographical-product specification identifies D. denneanum Kerr as the source plant for a product under that name. RHS lists Dendrobium clavatum as a synonym. Seeing one of these names on a label does not authenticate a lot; scientific identity, cultivation origin, plant part, and provenance documents still need to be checked.

The visible growth form has elongated, jointed pseudobulb canes, narrow leaves toward the upper stem, and yellow flower clusters. The geographical-product specification describes fresh stems generally 20–60 cm long and 0.5–1.5 cm in diameter, cylindrical, yellow-green, smooth or longitudinally grooved, with clear nodes. Thin leaf sheaths wrap the nodes. Yellow flowers usually grow in clusters, but flowering time and flower count vary with climate, plant age, and cultivation. The images on this page help visualize the orchid and its medicinal stem; AI images cannot authenticate a real specimen.

The same specification describes dried stems generally 20–45 cm long and 0.2–1.2 cm in diameter, slender and cylindrical, mostly unbranched, with slightly swollen nodes that are darker than the internodes. The surface is glossy yellow-green and may have longitudinal grooves; the dry stem is brittle, with a pale yellow-brown fracture showing short fibers. A coiled “fengdou” form is also described. These are sensory characteristics of the specified regional product, not a definitive test for species identity or adulteration.

The CITES 2026.1 extract used by this atlas contains eight comparative-tabulation rows for D. denneanum from 2020 through 2024. Each reports Appendix II, trade term MED (medicine), purpose T (commercial), and source A; China is reported as exporter, and the reported importers include the United States, Singapore, and Canada. No quantities are supplied in these rows, so they cannot establish volume, shipment count, or market value. They are records reported to the CITES database, not proof of therapeutic efficacy, product safety, or legality of any individual transaction.

The name Dieqiao Shihu appears in reviews of Chinese ethnomedicinal plants, where stems and leaves are reported as used. A review focused on Dendrobium species used for skin disorders summarizes a local practice in which stems of this species were used for impetigo and dried leaves were applied externally. This is an ethnobotanical report, not a treatment recommendation or confirmation of efficacy.

A study of polysaccharides from D. denneanum stems describes the plant as a Sichuan medicinal resource and notes its industry use. That does not make it a separately listed source in every pharmacopoeia: the same research paper identifies other Dendrobium species and related species as the official sources named in the 2020 Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Do not transfer properties, doses, or indications from a multi-species Shihu monograph to a Dieqiao Shihu product without a source that names this species.

This page preserves historical and regional context only. Older disease terms in source texts do not map directly to modern dermatologic diagnoses. Do not self-treat impetigo, skin infection, or wounds with the stem or leaves; seek medical assessment, especially for fever, worsening pain, spreading pus, or lesions near the eyes.

Kew POWO supports the accepted name and distribution; synonyms should also be retained when searching older literature. The Chinese geographical-product specification is a key source for Dieqiao Shihu: it names the source species and describes production-area conditions, cultivation, harvest, processing, and sensory quality. PubMed also indexes a pharmacognostic study describing the morphology and microscopy of crude Dieqiao Shihu and comparing it with material from D. nobile.

Chemical work on the stems has isolated phenanthrene derivatives. This is laboratory constituent analysis, not a clinical treatment trial. A polysaccharide study in an acute gastric-ulcer rat model reports preclinical findings and notes that composition and effects may differ by cultivation habitat. Results in rats or cells do not establish efficacy or a safe dose in people.

The review of external skin uses compiles ethnobotanical records rather than clinical trials. Among the sources checked, no controlled human clinical trial was found that establishes the reported folk use of this exact species. CITES demonstrates reported international trade rows; it does not authenticate each traded lot or its medicinal quality.

The regional specification describes a product made from stems meeting its standard, but it does not provide a complete interaction dossier for every user. “Shihu” in trade can refer to multiple species, parts, and preparations; misidentification, substitution, contamination, or damp storage are practical risks. Do not use study images to select or quality-check raw material.

The sources reviewed do not establish a specific combination that makes D. denneanum poisonous, and they are insufficient to conclude that any combination is safe. Do not combine it on your own with prescription medicines, other herbs, or supplements. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding, children, people with medical conditions, or anyone taking medicines should consult a clinician or pharmacist before considering an herbal product. Folk topical-use records are not a substitute for infection care; stop exposure and seek medical help if irritation or worsening symptoms occur.

Do not collect wild orchids. D. denneanum appears in Appendix II CITES trade data extracted for this atlas; cross-border trade must follow current permits and laws in the countries concerned. Source code A in the dataset is a reported artificially propagated source category, not a substitute for checking documentation for a specific lot.