Philippine Phalaenopsis - The Shared Species
Jim Cootes and George Tiong
T
Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi fma.
he genus Phalaenopsis is well represented in the
flava is a form of the species,
Philippines. There are at least 20 species, plus variwhere the genes producing the
ous color forms, varieties and subspecies, and four
anthocyanins (provides the rednatural hybrids. All in all, from our records, and the
dish markings) are lacking, and
database of the senior author, the Philippines have 40 natso the resulting blooms are a
urally occurring Phalaenopsis species, amongst its 7,107
striking golden yellow. This
islands. A number of the species are found throughout
form of the species has been
the Philippine archipelago, and others appear to have
recorded from Sumatra, and
limited distribution.
recently we have seen plants of
For the first part of this article on Philippine Phalaethis beautiful color form, which
nopsis species, we will discuss the species which are also
are from the Philippines region.
found in other countries.
As would be expected of such a
All these species are highly desirable plants, with eye- widely spread species, there are considerable variations in the
catching flowers and beautiful foliage, and are worthy of color of the flowers and with the shape of the labellum.
a place in any orchid collection. So long as they receive
reasonable care, they will reward the grower with reliable
flowers, and may be brought inside the house for enjoyment for short periods when in flower.
Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi
Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi
is the species with the
widest international distribution, and has been
found in northeastern India, the Nicobar Islands,
Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, the
peninsular of both Malaysia and Singapore, and
Indonesia (Java, Sumatra and Borneo). In the Philippines, it is only known from
the southwestern island of Palawan. This species grows as an
epiphyte at elevations up to 750 meters. The species (P. cornucervi) was first named, in 1827, by Jacob van Breda (17881867) as Polychilos cornu-cervi. In 1860, Carl Blume (17961862) and Heinrich G. Reichenbach (1824-1889) transferred
it to Phalaenopsis in Hamburger Garten-Blumenzeitung. The
specific epithet refers to the shape of the inflorescence, which
resembles the antlers of a deer.
Phalaenopsis | First Quarter | Volume 24 | 2014
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