Phalaenopsis species and varieties

More than 70 species are known in the genus Phalaenopsis. They are all monopodial orchids, with a severely shortened stem and broad leathery leaves. A full-grown plant has 4-6 leaves, they are evergreen, but gradually age, turn yellow and die, and new ones grow to replace them. The size of the leaves, as well as the flowers in various species, varies - the leaf length is from 5 cm in miniature phalaenopsis, up to 30 cm in large-leaved species. Peduncles are axillary, long, the abundance of branching depends on the quality of care, under favorable conditions, peduncles branch abundantly and carry many flowers. The phalaenopsis flower resembles a butterfly in shape, in different species the flowers are larger or smaller, with more rounded petals or elongated, pointed, but in general the shape of the butterfly is always traced. The aroma of the flowers may be pronounced or absent.

Phalaenopsis classification

• Class: Monocotyledons
• Order: Asparagus
• Family: Orchids
• Subfamily: Epidendra
• Tribe: Vandovye
• Subtribe: Aeridinae
• Genus: Phalaenopsis

Conventionally, the genus phalaenopsis can be divided into two groups:

• A group of phalaenopsis with long, branched inflorescences (up to 1 m) and large, round in shape flowers, mainly pink or white.
• A group of phalaenopsis with short peduncles, flowers of various shapes (and rounded and elongated, narrower petals), as a rule, the petals are waxy, denser in structure and the brightest colors.

Phalaenopsis species

Taxonomy of the Phalaenopsis genus: includes five subgenera

Subgenus Phalaenopsis	Phalaenopsis section		F. Filipino Ph. philippinensis F. Stewart Ph. stuartiana F. pleasant Ph. amabilis F. Aphrodite Ph. aphrodite F. Sander Ph. sanderiana F. Schiller Ph. schilleriana
	Section Deliciosae		F. Chiba Ph. chibae
	Esmeralda section		F. Busso Ph. buyssoniana F. the most beautiful Ph. pulcherrima F. Rainier Ph. regnieriana
	Section Stauroglottis		F. Celebesque Ph. celebensis F. rider Ph. equestrisLinden Phalaenopsis Ph. lindenii
Subgenus Aphyllae (leafless)			F. Wilson Ph. wilsonii F. stuartiana Ph. stobartiana F. tanialis Ph. taenialis F. Brace Ph. braceana F. finley Ph. finleyi F. Hainan Ph. hainanensis F. hongkhenensis Ph. honghenensis
Subgenus Parishianae			F. appendiculata Ph. appendiculata F. humpback Ph. gibbosa F. Lobba Ph. Lobbii F. Parisha Ph. parishii F. Malipoan Ph. malipoensis
Subgenus Polychilos		Polychilos section	F. deer horn Ph. cornu-cervi F. Mann Ph. mannii F. pantherin Ph. pantherina F. Bornean Ph. borneensis
		Section Fuscatae	F. Spoon Ph. cochlearis F. green Ph. viridis F. fuscata Ph. fuscata F. kunstleri Ph. kunstleri
		Amboinenses section	F. beautiful Ph. pulchra F. violet Ph. violacea F. bellina Ph. bellina F. micholisi (?) Ph. micholitzii F. fringed Ph. fimbriata F. floresensis Ph. floresensis F. Robinson Ph. robinsonii F. giant Ph. gigantea F. Brown Ph. fasciata F. Dovery Ph. doweryensis F. yellowish Ph. luteola F. moderate Ph. modesta F. spotted Ph. maculata F. Javanese Ph. javanica F. Maria Ph. mariae F. Ambonsky Ph. amboinensis F. Luddemanna Ph. lueddemanniana F. venomous Ph. venosa F. Reichenbach Ph. reichenbachiana F. pale Ph. pallens F. Bastian Ph. bastianii F. hieroglyphic Ph. hieroglyphica
		Zebrina section	F. Inscriptiosinensis Ph. inscriptiosinensis F. fine Ph. speciosa F. Tetraspis Ph. tetraspis F. Corning Ph. corningianaPhalaenopsis Sumatran Ph. sumatrana
Subgenus Proboscidiodes			F. Lowe Ph. lowii

The table shows only species phalaenopsis, in fact, intensive cross-pollination has led to a huge number of hybrids of all sizes and variations in flowers and shades of orchids. What we buy from regular flower shops is typically Phalaenopsis hybrids of pleasant Ph. amabilis, Phalaenopsis Schiller Ph. schilleriana or Phalaenopsis Stewart Ph. stuartiana.

But orchid collectors usually boast a wider assortment, among the favorites there are a wide variety of species and hybrids. Phalaenopsis orchids can be purchased in specialized online stores, from well-known collectors, on various thematic forums and even through e-bay.

Phalaenopsis varieties

In addition to species phalaenopsis, various hybrids are much more widespread. The taxonomy of phalaenopsis and orchids as a whole changes periodically, for example, the Esmeralda Esmeralda section includes species that previously belonged to the genus Doritis Doritis - these are Busso Phalaenopsis, beautiful Phalaenopsis, Rainier Phalaenopsis. At the same time, some varieties that were considered hybrids of Doritis and Falenopsis, the so-called Doritaenopsis Doritaenopsis - abbreviated Dtps. now you can safely call Phalaenopsis, the genus Doritis does not exist. However, suppliers of orchids from the Netherlands, Taiwan, still offer orchids with outdated names for sale.

So, the most popular variety Phalaenopsis "Black Orchid" still has the trade name of the hybrid Dtps. Black Butterfly.

Below in the photo are some popular varieties of phalaenopsis: