13 mm, the lateral sepals obliquely ovate-elliptic, channeled
toward apex, acute- carinate, to 31-15 mm. Petals obliquely
elliptic-obovate, obtuse, 26 x 13 mm. Lip three-lobed, to 27
mm long, to 18 mm wide across the expanded lateral lobes,
the lateral lobes erect, oblong-ovate, obiliquely truncate, the
posterior corner extended in an acute tooth, the midlobe oblong-obovate, rounded, with a central keel and an apical raised
pad of tissue, glabrous or with a few scattered trichomes, the
callus biseriate, the posterior callus a boss of retrorse fleshy
tubercles, and anterior callus bifid ... sepals and petals usually
have more or less revolute margins (‘soda straws”).
With this in the mind, the main differences will be discuss
following the description given by E.A. Christenson and some
input by the author by his personal observations.
Sepals and Petals
Phalaenopsis reichenbachiana
Greenish yellow flowers with transverse reddish brown bars,
elliptic-obovate, (broad at the end), concave (cuppy).
Phalaenopsis fasciata
Yellow flowers with transverse brown barring obliquely ovateelliptic, have more or less revolute margins (‘soda straws”).
Phalaenopsis reichenbachiana has a more fuller shape with
its inverted egg shape sepals and petals that is cuppy, Whereas
Phalaenopsis fasciata has tapering elongated oblong shaped petals that tends to roll back (convex) that make the “soda straws”
shape sepals and petals and making it less full with wide windows between sepals and petals. [Figure 2 - Outside Back Cover]
Callus
Phalaenopsis reichenbachiana
Triseriate, the posterior callus consisting of fleshy tubercles,
the middle callus bifid, the anterior callus sulcate, bifid, with
longer, narrower divisions.
Phalaenopsis fasciata
Biseriate, the posterior callus a boss of retrorse fleshy tubercles, and anterior callus bifid.
The callus is the most important distinguishing feature that
differentiates Phalaenopsis reichenbachiana from Phalaenopsis fasciata. P. reichenbachiana has a three row set of calluses
(triseriate), which the first consist of fleshy bumps or random
turbercles, second (middle) is a pair of horn like structure, and
the last is same as the second but with longer horns [Figure 5].
And Phalaenopsis fasciata has only a two row set of callus (biseriate), the first consist of two rows of bumps or turbercles,
and the second is a pair of horn like stracture [Figure 6].
OTHER DISTINGUISHING FEATURES
Fragrance
Phalaenopsis reichenbachiana has a musty fragrance and Phalaenopsis fasciata has a fruity like green apple fragrance. (Christenson - page 155)
Plant habit
Both species has plants that are similar in leaf stracture and
growth habit but the spike of Phalaenopsis reichenbachiana is
thinner with few flowers, not very long, may grow twice as
Li p - midlobe
long as the length of the leaves and is reluctant to form kiekies
Phalaenopsis reichenbachiana
Evenly pink, oblong-obtrullate, cunate, acute, with the lateral (Figure 7 - Inside Back Cover). On the other hand, Phalaenopsis
margins irregularly serulate, with a central raised keel, beyond fasciata, the spikes are thicker, often growing quite long, two
to three times longer than the leaves and will regularly prothe middle with long trichomes.
duce kiekies (Figure 8 - Inside Back Cover).
Phalaenopsis fasciata
White with pale pink suffusion, oblong-obovate, rounded,
with a central keel and an apical raised pad of tissue, glabrous
or with a few scattered trichomes.
Literature Cited:
Phalaenopsis reichenbachiana has a pink colored lip shaped
Christenson, Eric A. – 2001. Phalaenopsis: A Monograph.,
somewhat like a trowel and has many long trichomes (hair Timber Press, Portland, OR 97204
like growths) at the center of the lip [Figure 3]. Whereas for Sweet, H.R. – 1980. The Genus Phalaenopsis. The Orchid DiPhalaenopsis fasciata, has a white lip suffused light pink with gest, Inc. (Day Printing Corp.), Pomona, CA 91766
a raised pad of tissue at the center of the lip and has few or no
trichomes. [Figure 4].
See the Inside and Outside Back Covers for color illustrations.
Phalaenopsis | Fourth Quarter | Volume 23 | 2013
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