Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis (pron.: /ˌfælɨˈnɒpsɪs/) Blume (1825), known as the Moth Orchid, abbreviated Phal in the horticultural trade,^[1] is an orchid genus of approximately 60 species. Phalaenopsis is one of the most popular orchids in the trade, through the development of many artificial hybrids.

Classification

The genus can be classified into two groups :

• A group of species with a long, branched inflorescence (up to 1 m long) and large, almost round flowers with rose or white tints.
• A group of species with short stems and less rounded, waxy flowers with more pronounced colors.

In terms of Raunkiær plant lifeform terminology, these plants are epiphytes.
Based on DNA evidence, the genera Doritis Lindl. and Kingidium P.F.Hunt are now included in Phalaenopsis, according to the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.^[3] However not every specialist in this field accepts these taxonomic changes.
Intensive cross-fertilization has produced a great number of hybrids in all colors and variations. These are usually more adaptable to artificial conditions than their botanical ancestors. Many are hybrids of Phalaenopsis amabilis, Phalaenopsis schilleriana or Phalaenopsis stuartiana.
 Synonyms

• Doritis Lindl.
• Grafia A. D. Hawkes
• Kingidium P. F. Hunt
• Kingiella Rolfe
• Polychilos Breda
• Polystylus Hasselt ex Hassk.
• Staurites Rchb. f.
• Stauroglottis Schauer
• Synadena Raf.

Species

Phalaenopsis cultivar, possibly 'Aphrodite'

Phalaenopsis cultivar

Phalaenopsis (Barbara Moler x Johanna)

• Phalaenopsis amabilis (Moon Orchid; East Malaysia to Papuasia)
  • Phalaenopsis amabilis subsp. amabilis (East Malaysia to Papuasia).
  • Phalaenopsis amabilis subsp. amabilis forma Grandiflora (the Philippines - Palawan island).
  • Phalaenopsis amabilis subsp. moluccana (Northeastern Borneo to the Moluccas).
  • Phalaenopsis amabilis subsp. rosenstromii (New Guinea to Queensland).
• Phalaenopsis amboinensis (Sulawesi to the Moluccas).
  • Phalaenopsis amboinensis var. amboinensis (the Moluccas).
  • Phalaenopsis amboinensis var. flavida (Sulawesi)

Pink Phalaenopsis

• Phalaenopsis aphrodite (Southeastern Taiwan to the Philippines).
  • Phalaenopsis aphrodite subsp. aphrodite (the Philippines).
  • Phalaenopsis aphrodite subsp. formosana (Southeastern Taiwan).
• Phalaenopsis appendiculata (Malaya to northeastern Borneo).
• Phalaenopsis bastianii (the Philippines - Luzon).
• Phalaenopsis bellina (Borneo).
• Phalaenopsis borneensis (Borneo).
• Phalaenopsis braceana (Eastern Himalayas to China - Yunnan).
• Phalaenopsis buyssoniana (Indochina)
• Phalaenopsis celebensis (Sulawesi)
• Phalaenopsis chibae (Vietnam)

• Phalaenopsis cochlearis (Malaya to Borneo)
• Phalaenopsis corningiana (Borneo)
• Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi (Indochina to southern Philippines)
• Phalaenopsis deliciosa (Indian subcontinent to Malesia)
  • Phalaenopsis deliciosa subsp. deliciosa (Indian subcontinent to Malesia)
  • Phalaenopsis deliciosa subsp. hookeriana (Eastern Himalayas to southwestern China)
  • Phalaenopsis deliciosa subsp. philippinensis (the Philippines)
• Phalaenopsis doweryënsis (Northeastern Borneo).
• Phalaenopsis equestris (Taiwan - Hsiao Lan Yü to the Philippines)
  • Phalaenopsis equestris var. alba
  • Phalaenopsis equestris var. aurantiacum
  • Phalaenopsis equestris f. aurea (synonym of the accepted name Phalaenopsis equestris (Schauer) Rchb.f.,, 1850 )
  • Phalaenopsis equestris var. coerulea
  • Phalaenopsis equestris f. cyanochila (synonym of the accepted name Phalaenopsis equestris (Schauer) Rchb.f.,, 1850 )
  • Phalaenopsis equestris var. leucaspis
  • Phalaenopsis equestris var. leucotanthe
  • Phalaenopsis equestris var. rosea (synonym of the accepted name Phalaenopsis equestris (Schauer) Rchb.f.,, 1850 )
• Phalaenopsis fasciata (the Philippines).
• Phalaenopsis fimbriata (Sumatra, Java and Borneo).
• Phalaenopsis floresensis (Lesser Sunda Islands).
• Phalaenopsis fuscata (Borneo to Philippines - Palawan island)
• Phalaenopsis gibbosa (Vietnam).

Phalaenopsis cultivars

• Phalaenopsis gigantea (Borneo to Java).
• Phalaenopsis hainanensis (China - Hainan and Yunnan).
• Phalaenopsis hieroglyphica (the Philippines - Luzon, Leyte, Samar, Palawan, and Mindanao islands).
  • Phalaenopsis hieroglyphica var. Alba
• Phalaenopsis honghenensis (China - Yunnan).
• Phalaenopsis inscriptiosinensis (Central Sumatra
• Phalaenopsis javanica (Western Java).
• Phalaenopsis kunstleri (Myanmar to Malaya).
• Phalaenopsis lamelligera (Northeastern Borneo).
• Phalaenopsis lindenii (the Philippines - Luzon island).
  • Phalaenopsis lindenii var. alba
• Phalaenopsis lobbii (Eastern Himalayas to Myanmar).
• Phalaenopsis lowii (Southern Myanmar to western Thailand).
• Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana (the Philippines).

Phalaenopsis Mambo (a hybrid cultivar)

• • Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana var. delicata
  • Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana var. ochracea
• Phalaenopsis luteola (Northwestern Borneo).
• Phalaenopsis maculata (Malaya to Borneo).
• Phalaenopsis malipoensis Z.J.Liu & S.C.Chen (China - Yunnan)
• Phalaenopsis mannii (Eastern Himalayas to China - Yunnan).
• Phalaenopsis mariae (Northeastern Borneo to the Philippines - Mindanao).
• Phalaenopsis micholitzii (the Philippines - Mindanao island).
• Phalaenopsis modesta (Borneo).
• Phalaenopsis mysorensis (Indian subcontinent).
• Phalaenopsis pallens (the Philippines - Luzon and Mindanao islands).
• Phalaenopsis pantherina (Borneo).
• Phalaenopsis parishii (Eastern Himalayas to Myanmar).
• Phalaenopsis petelotii (Vietnam)
• Phalaenopsis philippinensis (the Philippines - Luzon island).
• Phalaenopsis pulcherrima (Indochina to Borneo). Formerly classified as Doritis.
• Phalaenopsis pulchra (the Philippines - Luzon island).
  • Phalaenopsis pulchra var. Alba
• Phalaenopsis regnieriana (Indochina).
• Phalaenopsis reichenbachiana (the Philippines - Mindanao island).

Phalaenopsis Nivacolor (a hybrid cultivar)

• Phalaenopsis robinsonii (the Moluccas).
• Phalaenopsis sanderiana (the Philippines - Mindanao island).
  • Phalaenopsis sanderiana var. Alba
  • Phalaenopsis sanderiana var. Marmorata
• Phalaenopsis schilleriana (the Philippines - Luzon, Mindoro, and Biliran islands).
  • Phalaenopsis schilleriana var. immaculata
• Phalaenopsis speciosa (Andaman and Nicobar Islands).
• Phalaenopsis stobartiana (China - southeastern Tibet to Guangxi)
• Phalaenopsis stuartiana (the Philippines - Mindanao island).
  • Phalaenopsis stuartiana var. nobilis
  • Phalaenopsis stuartiana var. punctatissima
• Phalaenopsis sumatrana (Indochina, Borneo to Philippines - Palawan island).
• Phalaenopsis taenialis (Eastern Himalayas to China - Yunnan)
• Phalaenopsis tetraspis (Andaman and Nicobar Islands to northwestern Sumatra).
• Phalaenopsis venosa (Sulawesi).
• Phalaenopsis violacea (Malaya to Sumatra).).
• Phalaenopsis viridis (Sumatra).
• Phalaenopsis wilsonii (China - southeastern Tibet to Guangxi).
• Phalaenopsis zebrina (Borneo).

Natural hybrids

• Phalaenopsis × amphitrita (P. sanderiana × P. stuartiana; Mindanao - Philippines)
• Phalaenopsis × gersenii (P. sumatrana × P. violacea; Borneo, Sumatra)
• Phalaenopsis hieroglyphica × lueddemanniana (P. hieroglyphica x P. lueddemanniana; (Philippines)
• Phalaenopsis × intermedia (P. aphrodite × P. equestris; Star of Leyte; Leyte - Philippines) (First recognized Phalaenopsis hybrid)
  • Phalaenopsis × intermedia var. Diezii (P. aphrodite × P. equestris; Star of Leyte; Leyte - Philippines)
• Phalaenopsis × leucorrhoda (P. aphrodite × P. schilleriana; Luzon - Philippines)
• Phalaenopsis × rothschildiana (P. amabilis × P. schilleriana; Luzon - Philippines)
• Phalaenopsis x schilleriano-stuartiana (P. schilleriana × P. stuartiana; Leyte - Philippines)
• Phalaenopsis × singuliflora (P. bellina × P. sumatrana; Borneo)
• Phalaenopsis × veitchiana (P. equestris × P. schilleriana; Luzon and Leyte - Philippines)

Phalaenopsis Orchid Floral Arrangement

Intergeneric hybrids

The following nothogenera have been established for intergeneric hybrids which include species of Phalaenopsis as ancestors.

• ×Aeridopsis (Aerides × Phalaenopsis)
• ×Arachnopsis (Arachnis × Phalaenopsis)
• ×Asconopsis (Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis)
• ×Beardara (Ascocentrum × Doritis × Phalaenopsis)
• ×Bogardara (Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Vanda × Vandopsis)
• ×Bokchoonara (Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
• ×Cleisonopsis (Cleisocentron × Phalaenopsis)
• ×Devereuxara (Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
• ×Diplonopsis (Diploprora × Phalaenopsis)

Pink Phalaenopsis (Moth) Orchids

• ×Doriellaopsis (Doritis × Kingiella × Phalaenopsis)
• ×Doritaenopsis (Doritis × Phalaenopsis)
• ×Dresslerara (Ascoglossum × Phalaenopsis × Renanthera )
• ×Edeara (Arachnis × Phalaenopsis × Renanthera × Vandopsis)
• ×Ernestara (Phalaenopsis × Renanthera × Vandopsis)
• ×Eurynopsis (Eurychone × Phalaenopsis)
• ×Hagerara (Doritis × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
• ×Hausermannara (Doritis × Phalaenopsis × Vandopsis)
• ×Himoriara (Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
• ×Isaoara (Aerangis × Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
• ×Laycockara (Arachnis × Phalaenopsis × Vandopsis)
• ×Lichtara (Doritis × Gastrochilus × Phalaenopsis)
• ×Luinopsis (Luisia × Phalaenopsis)
• ×Lutherara (Phalaenopsis × Renanthera × Rhynchostylis )
• ×Macekara (Arachnis × Phalaenopsis × Renanthera × Vanda × Vandopsis)
• ×Meechaiara (Ascocentrum × Doritis × Phalaenopsis × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
• ×Moirara (Phalaenopsis × Renanthera × Vanda)
• ×Nakagawaara (Aerides × Doritis × Phalaenopsis)
• ×Owensara (Doritis × Phalaenopsis × Renanthera )
• ×Parnataara (Aerides × Arachnis × Phalaenopsis)
• ×Paulara (Ascocentrum × Doritis × Phalaenopsis × Renanthera × Vanda)
• ×Pepeara (Ascocentrum × Doritis × Phalaenopsis × Renanthera )
• ×Phalaerianda (Aerides × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
• ×Phalandopsis (Phalaenopsis × Vandopsis)
• ×Phalanetia (Neofinetia × Phalaenopsis)
• ×Phaliella (Kingiella × Phalaenopsis)
• ×Phalphalaenopsis (Phalaenopsis × Paraphalaenopsis
• ×Pooleara (Ascocentrum × Ascoglossum × Phalaenopsis × Renanthera )
• ×Renanthopsis (Phalaenopsis × Renanthera )
• ×Rhynchonopsis (Phalaenopsis × Rhynchostylis)
• ×Rhyndoropsis (Doritis × Phalaenopsis × Rhynchostylis)
• ×Richardmizutaara (Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Vandopsis)
• ×Roseara (Doritis × Kingiella × Phalaenopsis × Renanthera )
• ×Sappanara (Arachnis × Phalaenopsis × Renanthera)
• ×Sarconopsis (Phalaenopsis × Sarcochilus)
• ×Sidranara (Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Renanthera)
• ×Sladeara (Doritis × Phalaenopsis × Sarcochilus)
• ×Stamariaara (Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Renanthera × Vanda)
• ×Sutingara (Arachnis × Ascocentrum × Phalaenopsis × Vanda × Vandopsis)
• ×Trautara (Doritis × Luisia × Phalaenopsis)
• ×Trevorara (Arachnis × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
• ×Trichonopsis (Phalaenopsis × Trichoglottis)
• ×Uptonara (Phalaenopsis × Rhynchostylis × Sarcochilus)
• ×Vandaenopsis (Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
• ×Vandewegheara (Ascocentrum × Doritis × Phalaenopsis × Vanda)
• ×Yapara (Phalaenopsis × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
• ×Yeepengara (Aerides × Phalaenopsis × Rhynchostylis × Vanda)
  

  Post-pollination changes in Phalaenopsis orchids

  Phalaenopsis are unique in that in some species, the flowers turn into green leaves after pollination. As in many other plants, the petals of the orchid flowers serve to attract pollinating insects and protect essential organs. Following pollination, petals will usually undergo senescence (i.e. wilt and disintegrate) because it is metabolically expensive to maintain them. In many Phalaenopsis species such as P.violacea, the petals and sepals find new uses following pollination thus escaping programmed cell death. By producing chloroplasts, they turn green, become fleshy and apparently start to photosynthesize, just like leaves.^[4]