Dendrobium crumenatum is a plant from the Orchidaceae family

Dendrobium crumenatum

Anggrek Merpati or a plant with the Latin name Dendrobium crumenatum is a plant from the Orchidaceae family. This type of orchid has a shape that is usually branched with a slender stem extending 60 - 90 cm long. Plants are sometimes extracted from the wild for local medicinal uses. It is often grown as an ornamental plant.

Pigeon orchid plants have a distribution area in the Asian region - Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and up to Papua New Guinea.

MERPATI ORCHID CHARACTERS

This type of orchid belongs to the Epiphytic Category that grows in humid areas, or areas with a short dry season, in open forest and on roadside trees, sometimes on large rocks, at elevations from sea level to 1,000 meters. Pigeon orchids have a symbiotic relationship with soil-dwelling fungal species. It is important that these fungal spores are present in any soil where the plant is grown.

MEDICINAL BENEFITS AND USES OF MERPATI ORCHID

• The ground leaves and fruit are used as a poultice on boils and pimples.
• The juice from heated pseudo-bulbs is used to treat infected ear problems.
• A study of ethanol and methanol extracts demonstrated anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and antioxidant activities that may be associated with changes in the total alkaloid content.

OTHER USES OF MERPATI ORCHID

• The fibers from the stems are used as a decorative material in making baskets and other crafts.
• As the description above, the Pigeon Orchid is often used as an ornamental plant.