| Phalaenopsis aphrodite Reichenbach f. (1862.) |
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| Phalaenopsis aphrodite Reichenbach f. (1862.) Edward's Botanical Register Vol. 24, t. 34. (1838.) |
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| Phalaenopsis aphrodite Reichenbach f. (1862.) Reichenbachia Vol. I. Series I. |
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| Phalaenopsis amabilis (Linnaeus) Blume (1825.) Reichenbachia Vol. I. Series I. Observe the differerent lip structure |
| Phalaenopsis stuartiana Reichenbach f. (1881.) | |
| Phalaenopsis stuartiana was discovered by William Boxall on Mindanao Island (Philippines) and sent to England in 1881. Reichenbach f. dedicated this species to Stuart Low, owner of Messrs. Low & Co., the famous gardening firm importing and introducing into cultivation many orchids. Nowadys, when Phalaenopsis hybrids featuring flowers "flat-and-round like a tablemat" are in vogue, the flower shape of the thoroughbred species is not really fashionable. However, Phalaenopsis stuartiana can produce inflorescences adorned with extraordinary high number of flowers and for this reason it was one of the most important parents of today's favorite hybrids. Prefers warm, humid, shaded locations, like most orchids having similar, mottled leaves do. |
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| Phalaenopsis equestris (Schauer) Reichenbach f. (1849.) | |
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| Widespread in the Philippines, from sea level up to 300 m altitude. Floriferous species without pronounced rest period. Best cultivated mounted and let the water drain off from the plant between waterings because potted specimens are sensitive to attacks of bacteria and fungi always present in compact, soaking wet and, hence, poorly aerated media. As it can be clearly seen on the photo, P. equestris tends to produce keikis on flower spikes, therefore, it is easy to propagate it vegetatively. For its small (about 1 inches across) flowers it is used in hybridization to produce true miniature Phalaenopsis hybrids for orchid aficionados swearing by "small is beautiful". |
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| On this litograph the bluish form of Phalaenopsis equestris can be seen published funnily enough under the since outdated Phalaenopsis rosea Lindley name |
| Phalaenopsis speciosa var, tetraspis (Reichenbach f.) Sweet (1968.) | |
| A rare, small Phalaenopsis species native to the Andaman and the Nicobar Islands. Member of the extremely variable P. speciosa complex. Consequently, in the orchid trade at times it is offered under the Phalaenopsis speciosa 'alba' name. |
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| Phalaenopsis schilleriana Reichenbach f. (1860.) |
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| Another member of the Phalaenopsis Section (i. e. the true, typical species) of its genus, discovered on Luzon Island (Philippines) in 1858 and imported to Germany by Consul Schiller commemorated in the species name.
Flower size, shape and color of this species is variable, ranging from nearly pure white to deep pink. The form shown at right is known in the orchid trade as Phalaenopsis schilleriana var. splendens Warner: it has larger flowers and differently marmored leaves than the typical species has. It is a tetraploid mutant having the genetical setup of the normal form doubled. The result is giantism expressed in more robust growth, larger flowers and bolder colors.  |
 The specimen shown above with its twenty flowers open simultaneously is just a youngster - old, large plants may produce branching inflorescences several yards long bearing over 700 (yes, over seven hundred!) flowers. Needless to say P. schilleriana is one of the most important progenitor of innumerable hybrids. |
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Notice the lip structure of diagnostic value |
| Phalaenopsis lindenii Loher (1895.) | |
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| Jean Jules Linden Portrait from his obituary (1895.) |
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Notice the lip structure of diagnostic value |
| Phalaenopsis gigantea J. J. Smith (1909.) |
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Rare species belonging in the Amboinenses Section of the genus. Phalenopsis gigantea is on the verge of extinction in its natural habitats, the forests of Sabah, Sarawak and Java. The first specimen was collected in 1897 then the species became "lost". It was re-discovered again only 40 years later, in 1937. P. gigantea is a large epiphyte. Prefers warm conditions and flowers mostly late summer or early spring. It is extremely slow growing: reaching flowering size takes at least five years. Flowers are borne on a short stem emerging beneath its huge leaves. If it is inconvenient to grow this large epiphyte mounted on adequately large support, the basket or pot in which it is planted should be hanged up tilted, allowing free development of its inflorescence. It has a rare, xanthochroistic (yellow) mutant. |
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| Phalaenopsis javanica J. J. Smith (1909.) |
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| Phalaenopsis javanica belongs in the Amboinenses Section of the genus. It was (?) native to Java and thought to became extinct in the wild. It is a first class rarity in cultivation. Flowers are only 1-1 ½ inches across produced beneath its leaves, which must be taken into consideration when potted or mounted. Hybridizing work aimed at transferring its attractive color pattern into easier cultivable, "standard" hybrids has been done. |
