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Phalaenopsis (From phalaina a moth and opsis)

(from phalaina, a moth, and opsis, resemblance; referring to the appearance of the flowers). Moth Orchid. Including Polychilos. ORD. Orchideae. A genus comprising about a score species of very handsome stove, epiphytal orchids, having short, leafy stems instead of pseudo-bulbs, natives of the Malayan Archipelago and the Eastern provinces of India. Flowers showy, loosely racemose, shortly pedicellate; sepals and petals flatly spreading, the latter much larger and wider than the former; lip three-lobed, free, continuous with the prolonged base of the column, and furnished with a callosity at its base; column semi-terete, thickened upwards; anther two-celled, containing two pollen masses, attached by a strap-shaped caudicle to a cordate gland; peduncles lateral, simple or branched. Leaves few, broad, thick, leathery, two-ranked, notched at the top. Some of the plants described below as species are probably natural hybrids.

The species of Phalaenopsis rank among the most beautiful of the numerous Orchids in cultivation. One or another of the representatives of the genus may be seen in flower nearly the whole year round. The plants require careful treatment, and the heat of a house devoted to East Indian Orchids. In nurseries and a few private gardens, where a large collection or quantity of these plants are grown, it is customary to devote structures specially to them; this is most satisfactory, where practicable, as the proper treatment can be more readily given than would be the case if other plants were intermixed. Where, however, there is not an orchid-house in existence, a few specimens of Phalaenopsis may, with extra attention, be successfully cultivated in an ordinary stove. It is important to remember that the plants are natives of hot countries, where they are deluged with water in the rainy season. They are found growing on rocks, and on branches of trees, in damp places. Not having any pseudo-bulbs in which nutriment and moisture may be stored, and the evaporating leaf surface being somewhat great, it is essential that, in the growing season, plenty of water must be given, and sufficient moisture provided at all times, according to weather, to prevent the plants suffering for want of it. The growing season is from March until October, inclusive. During this interval, the minimum day temperature should be from 70 deg. to 75 deg., allowing a rise to 80 deg. or more with sun heat; the night temperature being about 65 deg. In winter, 60 deg. to 65 deg. should be taken as a minimum. Established plants of Phalaenopsids require plenty of light, but they must not be exposed to the summer's sun. If this is allowed, the foliage is liable to become scorched and disfigured, and injury to the plant will also ensue. A thin, movable shading, that can easily be applied or removed, should be provided. It is most usual to suspend the plants from the roof; but they should not be hung too near, on account of their liability to injury from cold. If grown in pots or cylinder baskets, they should be arranged on a bed or stage near the glass.

Phalaenopsids may, under judicious treatment, be successfully grown in pots, in baskets, or on blocks. Drainage is of the utmost importance: epiphytal Orchids are quite unable to withstand anything approaching stagnant moisture. Clean potsherds, broken about 1/2in. square, should be used in pots or baskets, so as to fill nearly up to the rim; or a small, inverted pot may be placed inside for assisting in the drainage. Good sphagnum, with a few pieces of fibrous peat and nodules of charcoal, should be placed in sufficient quantity above the drainage to allow the plant to rest on it at a height, in the centre, of 3in. above the rim or edge. The surface should be covered, after the plant is fixed in position, with living sphagnum. Careful shading and watering will be requisite for some time afterwards. The shallow pots or pans specially made for Orchids are well adapted for species of Phalaenopsis. They can be readily suspended or taken down, and always present a neat appearance when in use. If grown on blocks, a little peat and sphagnum should be placed beneath the plant, which should then be surrounded with sphagnum, and fixed in position with a small piece of wire. An important point in management is that of ventilation. Air should be admitted in summer whenever it may be done with safety; but the ventilators should be placed near the pipes, so that the air may become warmed before reaching the plants. Damping of the stage and floor, on bright days, should be performed chiefly in the morning, so that it may become nearly dried up by night; and drip must be carefully guarded against. To keep the foliage clean, and remove Thrips, which are often troublesome, the leaves should be carefully sponged occasionally with clean, tepid water. Should fumigating become a necessity, it must be conducted with very great care.

Propagation is very difficult, as the plants seldom afford an opportunity for division. P. Luddemanniana is more easily increased than any of the others; it produces young plants upon the flower stems. Occasionally, some of the other species will also similarly multiply; and P. Stuartiana sometimes produces young plants upon its roots. When this takes place, these young plants should be left until they form roots of their own, when they may be placed separately on small blocks.

P. amabilis (lovely).* fl. varying considerably in size, sometimes exceeding 5in. in diameter; sepals and petals pure white and rounded, of great substance; lip having a few bright yellow streaks; panicle usually very fine, and branching. Autumn. l. light green. Java, 1847. A remarkably handsome species, closely allied to P. Aphrodite, and distinguished chiefly by the larger flowers, colour of the lip, and in the longer and lighter green shade of the leaves.(B. M. 5184, under name of P. grandiflora.) A variety named aurea has the colouring of the lip much darker and richer than usual. P. amethystina (amethyst).* fl. comparatively small, loose; sepals and petals white, spreading; lip white, tinged with yellow at the base, centre part rich amethyst, suffused with purple, and deeply emarginate in front; peduncle simple or branched, 4in. to 12in. long, slender at the base, thicker towards the apex; bracts small, pointed. l. stout, rigid, oblong, 3in. to 4in. long, 2in. to 2 1/2in. broad, margins undulate. Sunda Isles (?), 1869. An elegant but small-growing species. (G. C. 1870, 1731.) P. antennifera (antennae-bearing). fl. rose-coloured, in a spike 2ft. long, having small, spreading, linear, side lobes to the stalk of the lip; these, and the basal antennae, are deep orange, the front lobe purple. Burmah, 1879. This plant much resembles P. Esmeralda.

P. Aphrodite (Aphrodite).* fl. about 3in. across; sepals and petals pure white, the latter larger and more rounded than the former; lip three-lobed, white, frequently marked with a few streaks of crimson, orange, and yellow; racemes long, branched, and having the blossoms arranged in a distichous manner. Flowering nearly all the year round. l. bright green, elliptical, broad, thick, flat, arranged very close together in a two-ranked manner. Manilla, 1836. A beautiful species, remaining a long time in perfection if the flowers are kept free from damp. (B. 133; B. M. 4297; B. R. 1833, 34, under name of P. amabilis.) There are several very desirable forms of this plant. P. Boxallii (Boxall's). fl., sepals and petals sulphur-coloured, the former barred and blotched with brown, and the latter with three longitudinal stripes; front lobe of lip white, crescent-shaped, with blunt angles and a central tubercle; lateral lobes erect; disk with a short, bicuspate, yellow lobe, with a mauve and white keel in front. Philippines, 1883. P. casta (chaste). fl. white, slightly tinged with purple. l. slightly spotted in the young state only. Philippines, 1875. This is supposed, by Reichenbach, to be a natural mule.

P. Corningiana (Corning's). fl., upper sepal striped and barred with purple-brown; lateral ones almost wholly purple-brown, with border and a few spots yellowish-white; petals longitudinally striped and blotched; lip bent immediately before its claw with a yellow callus, and the central part rich purple-violet; a tuft of hairs on the front middle line. 1879. A very striking plant, somewhat resembling P. sumatrana.

P. Cornu-cervi (stag's horn). fl. of medium size; sepals and petals yellow, tinged with green, and barred and striped with brown; spike thickened and flattened at the top where the flowers are situated. l. bright green, 8in. or more in length. Moulmein, 1864. A very pretty species, allied to P. Mannii. (B. M. 5570, under name of Polychilos Cornu-cervi.) P. Esmeralda (Esmeralda).* fl. rose-coloured, 1in. in diameter; lateral lobes of lip oblong, erect; middle lobe obtuse, decurved; raceme few-flowered; scape 1ft. high. l. distichous, spreading, 8in. long, 2in. broad, somewhat granulose, marbled. Cochin China, 1877. A small but pretty species.F. M. n. s. 358.) P. fuscata (dusky). fl. yellowish, mottled with brown, medium-sized, very fleshy; lip very peculiar. l. large, oblong, bluntly acute. Malaya, 1874. Similar to P. Cornu-cervi.

P. intermedia (intermediate). fl. of moderate size; sepals and petals white, shaded with rose; lip small, of a deep rosy-purple hue. l. light green. Philippines, 1867. A very desirable natural hybrid, although not so showy as many others; it has also been recently artificially produced by Messrs. Veitch. It has two extremely pretty varieties: Brymeriana (F. M. n. s. 263) is chiefly distinguishable by the lip being white and marked with crimson; Portei (G. C. n. s., v. 369, 371) surpasses the typical species in the fine, branching spikes bearing more numerous, larger flowers, the colouring being similar, but the contrast of tint between the lip and other portion of the flower being more distinctly marked. Both type and varieties are very rare. P. leucorhoda (white-and-rose). fl., sepals and petals white, tinged in the centre with rose; column rose. Philippines, 1875. A handsome and distinct form, supposed to be a natural hybrid between P. amabilis and P. Schilleriana. P. Lowii (Low's). fl. comparatively small; sepals and petals white, tinged with rose, round; lip bright rosy-purple. l. broad, somewhat thin in texture, dark green. Borneo, 1862. A very remarkable species, said to grow upon exposed rocks in Moulmein, where, at one time of the year, the rains are extremely heavy, and, at another, the heat and drought are so great that the plant loses its leaves and appears to be almost dead, but revives with the return of the wet season. (B. M. 5351.) P. Luddemanniana (Luddemann's).* fl. medium-sized; sepals and petals white, transversely barred with brown towards the points, the lower portion being barred with violet-purple; lip rather long, having its centre richly marked with deep violet; spikes sometimes exceeding 2ft. long, and remaining in beauty for two months. l. bright green, 8in. or more in length. Philippine Islands, 1865. Very distinct and beautiful; much more easily increased than the other species of the genus. (B. M. 5523.) P. L. pulchra (pretty). fl. beautiful port-wine colour; lower part of petals, sepals, and lip, and base of column, shining amethyst-blue. Philippine Islands, 1875.

P. Mannii (Mann's). fl. about 2in. broad; sepals and petals yellow, with many cinnamon-brown dots and blotches; lip three-lobed, the lateral lobes erect, the central one lunate and fringed, white and purplish; column yellow; peduncle several-flowered. l. cuneate-oblong, ligulate, acute, green, with a delicate violet border and many violet spots on the base. India, 1871. P. Mariae (Mrs. Mary Burbidge's). fl. moderate-sized; sepals and petals white, with transverse blotches of chocolate-red and one or two magenta-purple spots at their base; lip rich magenta-purple, with a white edge. l. oblong, dark green, distichous, drooping. Borneo (?), 1883. (W. O. A. 80.) P. Parishii (Parish's).* fl. cream-coloured, except the lip, which is purple, diminutive, disposed in short spikes. l. oblong-ligulate, rather blunt. Burmah, 1865. A curious little epiphyte. (B. M. 5815.) The variety Lobbii has a white lip with two brown bands. 1870.

P. Reichenbachiana (Reichenbach's).* fl. large, disposed in many-flowered racemes; sepals and petals waxy whitish-green, with brown markings; side lobes of the lip orange and white, the central lobe mauve-blue. 1883. A fine species.

P. rosea (rosy). fl. rather small; sepals and petals white, slightly tinged with pink; lip deep violet in the centre, the side lobes stained with rich orange; spikes sometimes fourteen-flowered, eventually elongated. l. somewhat oblong, slightly broadest at the apex, bright green. Manilla, 1848. A pretty species. (B. M. 5212.) P. Sanderiana (Sander's).* fl. of various rosy tints, large; lip white with brown and purple stripes, and some yellow. l. mottled. 1883. A fine plant. (W. O. A. 209.) P. S. marmorata (marbled). fl., sepals and petals yellowish-white outside, the lateral ones with rows of small, purple spots at their base; lip marked with purple spots and stains.

P. Schilleriana (Schiller's).* fl. often measuring more than 2 1/2in. across, arranged in two rows along the spike; the rounded petals and narrower sepals of a fine rosy colour, varying in intensity in different plants; lip three-lobed, the lateral lobes rose-coloured, the central one white, with yellow protuberances at the base; peduncle frequently 3ft. in length, branched, occasionally bearing nearly 100 blossoms. l. arranged in a similar manner to those of P. Aphrodite, but much longer and broader, marbled or mottled with light green on a rich green ground. Roots remarkable in being flat, and having a rough appearance. Manilla, 1860. A very beautiful species, the best yet in cultivation, and equally attractive when in or out of flower.(B. M. 5530; R. X. O. 101.) P. S. Immaculata (Immaculate). fl. rosy tinted, without dot or blotch; lateral laciniae of lip pure white, edged with violet, the callus pure yellow. Philippine Islands, 1875.

P. speciosa (showy).* fl., sepals and petals white, blotched and striped with rose-madder, lanceolate, acuminate; lip clavate, papillose at the apex, with small, basal, erect side lobes, rosy. purple, with two yellow spots on the side lobes. 1883. Of this handsome plant, the following are varieties: Christiana, with broader sepals and petals, the former rose-madder, the latter white (G. C. n. s., xviii. 131); imperatrix, a larger form, with rose-purple flowers.

P. Stobartiana (Stobart's). fl., sepals and petals apple green, ultimately yellowish-green; lip amethyst-colour, the lateral partitions marked with yellow and white, the amethyst-colour finally changing into a nearly cinnabarine-red. 1877. Allied to P. amethystina.

P. Stuartiana (Mr. Stuart-Low's).* fl. cream-coloured; the sepals are outside of a light sulphur, and inside the inferior halves of the lateral sepals of the same colour, with dark cinnamon blotches; side laciniae of the lip pure white at the top; panicle many-flowered. l. broad ovate, spotted when young. 1881. A lovely species. (B. M. 6222; F. & P. 559; G. C. n. s., xvi., pp. 748, 751; R. G. 1130.) P. sumatrana (Sumatran). fl. about 3in. wide; sepals and petals yellowish-white, branded or barred with streaks of reddish-brown; lip white, spotted with orange, and streaked down the centre with violet; spike about 6in. long, from five to ten-flowered. l. acuminated, 6in. to 7in. long, somewhat fleshy, bright green. Sumatra, 1865. (B. M. 5527.) P. s. sanguinea (bloody). A fine variety, having the lateral sepals nearly wholly dark red, with very few yellowish-green markings. Borneo, 1881. P. tetraspis (four-horned). fl. white, disposed in a rich panicle; lateral lobes of lip ligulate, with a tooth at the upper end, and a conical callus in the middle, between the lobes two pairs of bristle-like processes; front lobe of lip rhomboid-ligulate, with a cushion of hairs at the apex. l. very fine. East Indies, 1881.

P. Valentini (Valentine's). fl., sepals and petals purple, white inside at the base, and having some purple bands; lip mauve, white, and yellow. 1883. P. Veitchiana (Veitch's).* fl. resembling those of P. Schilleriana, but smaller, purplish; lip purplish-white, with dark purple spots. l. cuneate-oblong, obscurely tessellated. Philippine Islands (?), 1872. (F. M. n. s. 213.) P. V. brachyodon (short-toothed). fl., sepals and petals white, the base of the lateral sepals having some brown spots; front lobe of lip dark purple, side lobes with purple tips. 1884.

P. violacea (violet).* fl. rather closely set along the spike, almost from its base, fully 2in. across; sepals and petals white, delicately washed with violet-rose in the lower or basal portions; lip rich violet-crimson, relieved by the golden-yellow callus; column violet-crimson. l. light cheerful green, as large as those of P. Schilleriana. 1861. A handsome species. (F. M. 1879, 342.) The variety Murtoniana (G. C. n. s., xvi. 145) is very desirable; it has fine lemon-yellow flowers, marked with a purplish colour.