Hybridizing with Phalaenopsis Species
by Bill Livingston
Phalaenopsis mannii
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Petals and sepals are commonly yellow with numerous cinnamon brown blotches and dots over all segments, and a white and purplish lip with a yellow column. Some forms show sepals and petals uniform yellow, others are very light to pale yellow color with faint darker yellow markings, and still others have a small number of dots over all segments. When in New Zealand a number of years ago I saw a deep dark chocolate-colored form. The species is very easy to grow and produces many small flowers on branching inflorescences in the spring. I can remember Hugo Freed saying, "Whatever you cross it with will help improve its shape". The ventral sepals are very bow- legged and all of its segments reflex; this is one reason why it is not used much in breeding. Better form and better results were obtained when it was bred to other species, although it could produce yellows when bred to a standard white, but most of its hybrids had deplorably-shaped flowers.
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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.
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