Abstract: In order to identify the germplasm sources, fake and inferior Dendrobium in the market, multiple methods have been applied in identification of Dendrobium germplasm. In the paper, characteristics and applications of the morphological, microstructure, cytological, palynological, chemical fingerprinting and DNA fingerprinting methods were reviewed. It was found that fingerprintings were effective for discrimination the germplasm and geo-herbalism of Dendrobium, and medicinal material quality control, while the criterions and evaluation system of fingerprintings should be further completed, and it was necessary to focus on the aspects of reasonable evaluation and utilization wild resources, combination of fingerprintings and pharmacological action, genetic improvement and gene cloning for the future research in Dendrobium.