Phalaenopsis Journal Second Quarter, Vol. 21(4) 2012 | Page 18

Super Idol
Joan Bateman
W
hen harlequin Phalaenopsis were first introduced in
the mid-1990s in Taiwan, they were unusual look-
ing. Some might say they were the “ugly ducklings”
of the Phalaenopsis world. Yet those initial hybrids
had enough personality with their unusual colors and unique
patterns to catch the attention of a group of AOS judges at the
1996 Southern Taiwan Orchid Show. “I thought the flowers
were capricious and playful which made me think of a clown,”
said Paul Bechtel, the AOS Judge credited with coining the
term harlequin for this line of breeding. The name stuck, and
readily identifies those types of Phalaenopsis flowers today. The
harlequins have definitely grown up to be “stunning swans”
and represent a facet of mainstream Phalaenopsis breeding
that has come of age.
Chian Xen Biotechnology in Taiwan is creating some of the
most beautiful harlequin Phalaenopsis and Doritaenopsis hy-
brids. The nursery is one of the premier harlequin Phalaenop-
sis breeders in the world. According to Mr. Huang Fu-Liang,
owner and hybridizer of Chian Xen Biotechnology, the origi-
18
nal goal of harlequin breeding was to produce a black Phalae-
nopsis. Though there were some successes, the overall quality
of the flowers did not meet their criteria. Most of the early har-
lequin flowers were too small with thin substance, had poor
form and lackluster patterns. “To achieve a larger, flatter flower
with substance and unique patterns, I decided to cross Dtps.
... continued on page 30
Second Quarter, Vol. 21(4) 2012 - Phalaenopsis