Dendrobium, a yellowgreen and tufted perennial evergreen herb with vertical stem and narrowed base, clings on tree trunk. It has distinct knobs and longitudinal groove-like lines. Its leaves, long ellipsoid and subleathery, grow on the upper part of the stem. Its racemes of crimson white flowers bloom in summer. Dendrobium germinates at the shady side of steep cliffs or on the old branches and loose trunks of deep mountain woods, perennially absorbs and picks essence of morning dew and moonlight. Its stem is used as medicine, slightly cold and sweat taste. Li Shizhen said in the “Compendium of Materia Medica”: “Dendrobium can nourish kidney, replenish vital essence, protect intestines and stomach, add Nei Jue, relieve Stomach’s Qi, build muscle, appease inner mind and prolong life”.

Described as the life-saving herb in the “Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic”, Dendrobium is endangered due to its extremely rare self-growth and long-term uncontrolled damage. Therefore, it has been listed as the wild herb under special protection by the State Council.

The technical development and application of Dendrobium has been on the list of Spark Projects of the State Scientific and Technological Commission. The cultivation and factory production of Dendrobium are listed as the key “Spark” Projects of the “Eighth Five-year Plan” by the Chinese National Center for Bioengineering Development and are further supported.