Hybridizing with Phalaenopsis Species
by Bill Livingston
Phalaenopsis javanica
|
Flowers are rather small, 1.75 inches wide, and quite cup-shaped; this cupping is passed on to its hybrids. Petals are much smaller than the dorsal and ventral sepals. When hybridized with flowers showing color, the carotenoids in this species enrich the hybrid's color. This species has a short inflorescence with about six flowers which range from white to greenish yellow, or yellow. Petals and sepals are marked with longitudinal stripes consisting of numerous small brownish purple spots, giving the flowers a tessellated appearance. Lateral lobes of the lip are yellowish in front with a pale suffusion at the base with a white disc. Lip midlobe is purple or lilac in front and white at base, and the column is white. The linear arrangement of the spots on the sepals and petals, as well as the magenta or purple color of the lip, are characteristics that appear in its hybrids, and there is a slight violet fragrance which scents the air. For a time there was a mad scramble to start hybridizing with this new species. While a num- ber of interesting and colorful crosses resulted, public interest seemed to fade away.
|
|
This article which has been reprinted here with permission, originally appeared in the Volume 66, Number 4 edition of Orchid Digest, (Oct-Dec 2002), which is a Special Edition that highlights Phalaenopsis, and also features an excellent article on Phal culture by the Tuskes. The Phalaenopsis Special Edition of Orchid Digest can be ordered from Orchid Digest for $22. Highly recommended.
This article, all of its sections and accompanying photographs
are copyright 2002 by Orchid Digest Corporation.
Note: This site uses Javascript Navigation Controls;
if you have Javascript disabled on your Browser,
you will need to use the Site Map to navigate this site.
|
