''Phalaenopsis'' (), also known as moth orchids,
is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of about seventy species of plants in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Orchidaceae
Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant.
Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...
. Orchids in this genus are
monopodial
Vascular plants with monopodial growth habits grow upward from a single point. They add leaves to the apex each year and the stem grows longer accordingly. The word ''Monopodial'' is derived from Greek "mono-", ''one'' and "podial", "foot", in refe ...
epiphyte
An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...
s or
lithophyte
Lithophytes are plants that grow in or on rocks. They can be classified as either epilithic (or epipetric) or endolithic; epilithic lithophytes grow on the surfaces of rocks, while endolithic lithophytes grow in the crevices of rocks (and are also ...
s with long, coarse roots, short, leafy stems and long-lasting, flat flowers arranged in a flowering stem that often branches near the end. Orchids in this genus are native to India, Taiwan, China, Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Australia with the majority in Indonesia and the Philippines.
Description
Orchids in the genus ''Phalaenopsis'' are monopodial epiphytic, sometimes lithophytic
herbs
In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...
with long, coarse roots with
pneumatodes and short leafy stems hidden by overlapping leaf bases. The leaves are usually arranged in two rows, relatively large and leathery, oblong to elliptic and sometimes succulent. A few to many, small to large, long-lasting, flat, often fragrant flowers are arranged on erect to hanging
raceme
A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...
s or
panicle
A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a panicle are of ...
s. The
sepal
A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...
s and
petal
Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...
s are free from and spread widely apart from each other. The
lateral
Lateral is a geometric term of location which may refer to:
Healthcare
*Lateral (anatomy), an anatomical direction
*Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle
*Lateral release (surgery), a surgical procedure on the side of a kneecap
Phonetics
*Lateral cons ...
sepals are usually larger than the
dorsal
Dorsal (from Latin ''dorsum'' ‘back’) may refer to:
* Dorsal (anatomy), an anatomical term of location referring to the back or upper side of an organism or parts of an organism
* Dorsal, positioned on top of an aircraft's fuselage
* Dorsal co ...
sepal and the petals much wider than the sepals. The
labellum is joined stiffly to the
column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...
and has three lobes. The side lobes are erect and more or less parallel to each other and the middle lobe sometimes has a pair of appendages or antennae.
Taxonomy and naming
The genus ''Phalaenopsis'' was first formally described in 1825 by
Carl Ludwig Blume
Charles Ludwig de Blume or Karl Ludwig von Blume (9 June 1796, Braunschweig – 3 February 1862, Leiden) was a German-Dutch botanist.
He was born at Braunschweig in Germany, but studied at Leiden University and spent his professional life wor ...
and the description was published in .
The name ''Phalaenopsis'' is derived from the
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...
word () meaning 'a kind of moth'
with the
suffix
In linguistics, a suffix is an affix which is placed after the stem of a word. Common examples are case endings, which indicate the grammatical case of nouns, adjectives, and verb endings, which form the conjugation of verbs. Suffixes can carry ...
''-opsis'' meaning 'having the appearance of' or 'like'.
The genus name is abbreviated ''Phal.'' horticulturally.
Infrageneric structure
The large monophyletic genus "Phalaenopsis" is divided into several sub-units. They are either regarded as subgenera or as sections. Not all of them are monophyletic.
The subgenus ''Polychilos'' is monophyletic and it is divided into two subclades. The subgenus ''Phalaenopsis'' is paraphyletic under its current definition. Likewise the evidence shows that the subgenera ''Aphyllae'' and ''Parishianae'', as currently defined, are not monophyletic. The position of the monotypic subgenus ''Proboscidioides'', which only consists of ''
Phalaenopsis lowii'', suggests a close relationship with the subgenus ''Aphyllae''.
The following
phylogenetic tree
A phylogenetic tree (also phylogeny or evolutionary tree Felsenstein J. (2004). ''Inferring Phylogenies'' Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, MA.) is a branching diagram or a tree showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological spec ...
is a simplified tree to show the general placement of the main infrageneric groups. It is meant to give an overview, despite the contended monophyly of some of the respective groups.
''Ornithochilus''
The former genus ''Ornithochilus'' was merged with ''Phalaenopsis'' and is considered by some to be a subgenus. Its members have distinctly 4-lobed, fringed labella with a short, curved spur situated near the middle of the lip as opposed to the base. ''Ornithochilus'' formerly had three known species, native to
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, the
Himalayas
The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 100 ...
and
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...
:
*''
Ornithochilus cacharensis''
Barbhuiya, B.K.Dutta & Schuit. - Assam
*''
Ornithochilus difformis
''Phalaenopsis difformis'', also known as the dark brown ''Phalaenopsis'', is a species of epiphytic orchid
Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are ...
''
(Wall. ex Lindl.) Schltr. - Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Assam, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Borneo, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia
*''
Ornithochilus yingjiangensis''
Z.H.Tsi - Yunnan
''Hygrochilus''
The former genera ''Sedirea'' and ''Hygrochilus'' were incorporated into ''Phalaenopsis'' subgen. ''Hygrochilus''. The interspecific relationships within the subgenus ''Hygrochilus'' are poorly understood and are a source of confusion. The type species of the subgenus is ''
Phalaenopsis hygrochila''. The species of this subgenus are morphologically distinct from the other subgenera, due to their four pollinia and spurred flowers, as well as their unusually long stems.
Species list
See
List of ''Phalaenopsis'' species
Intergeneric hybrids
See
List of ''Phalaenopsis'' species
Distribution
Species of ''Phalaenopsis'' are found from India to southern China, Indochina, Malaysia and from Indonesia to the Philippines and New Guinea. There is a single species, ''Phalaenopsis rosenstromii,''
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
, Australia. The greatest diversity of ''Phalaenopsis'' occurs in Indonesia and the Philippines.
Conservation
Many species are highly threatened. For instance ''
Phalaenopsis lindenii
''Phalaenopsis lindenii'' is a species of plant in the family Orchidaceae, named after Belgian botanist Jean Jules Linden. It is endemic to the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland fore ...
'' is categorized as endangered, ''
Phalaenopsis violacea'' is categorized as vulnerable and ''
Phalaenopsis micholitzii'' is categorized as critically endangered. Some species, like ''
Phalaenopsis javanica,'' are even believed to be extinct in the wild.
Pollination and reproduction
Pollination of ''Phalaenopsis pulcherrima'' through bees, specifically ''Amegilla nigritar'', has been recorded in China. This species employs a deceptive pollination strategy. The orchid does not provide rewards to pollinators. It benefits from blooming in the same period as rewarding species. ''
Amegilla
''Amegilla'' is a large genus of bees in the tribe Anthophorini. Several species have blue metallic bands on the abdomen, and are referred to as "blue-banded bees" and "digger bees". One of their names in english, "digger bees" is given to them ...
'' is the most important pollinator, but diurnal insects – such as four species of bees, two species of butterflies, one species of moth and two other unidentified insects – have also been observed to interact with the flowers.
Unlike most other angiosperms, the development of the
ovules
In seed plants, the ovule is the structure that gives rise to and contains the female reproductive cells. It consists of three parts: the ''integument'', forming its outer layer, the ''nucellus'' (or remnant of the megasporangium), and the fe ...
is triggered by
pollination
Pollination is the transfer of pollen from an anther of a plant to the stigma of a plant, later enabling fertilisation and the production of seeds, most often by an animal or by wind. Pollinating agents can be animals such as insects, birds ...
. Therefore a temporal mismatch of male and female
gametes
A gamete (; , ultimately ) is a haploid cell that fuses with another haploid cell during fertilization in organisms that reproduce sexually. Gametes are an organism's reproductive cells, also referred to as sex cells. In species that produce t ...
exists (i.e. the male structures are ready but the female structures have not yet been fully developed). In orchids
fertilisation
Fertilisation or fertilization (see spelling differences), also known as generative fertilisation, syngamy and impregnation, is the fusion of gametes to give rise to a new individual organism or offspring and initiate its development. Proce ...
occurs within days or months after the pollination event. After pollination occurs the
stigmatic cavity is often closed through swelling of the
column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...
. As a result the
pollinia A pollinium (plural pollinia) is a coherent mass of pollen grains in a plant that are the product of only one anther, but are transferred, during pollination, as a single unit. This is regularly seen in plants such as orchids and many species of mil ...
are completely enclosed. The pollen germinates after enclosure and tubes are produced. In ''
Phalaenopsis aphrodite'' pollen tubes entered the ovary within 3 days after pollination. Within 15 days pollen tubes evenly spread throughout the
placental
Placental mammals (infraclass Placentalia ) are one of the three extant subdivisions of the class Mammalia, the other two being Monotremata and Marsupial
Marsupials are any members of the mammalian infraclass Marsupialia. All extant marsup ...
cavities. Within 60 days after the pollination event 30.6 % of the tips of the pollen tubes started to enter the micropyles (i.e. entry points) of the ovules. Finally, 65 to 70 days after the pollination event, fertilisation occurred.
''Phalaenopsis'' are unique in that in some species of the subgenus ''Polychilos'', the flowers turn into green leaves after pollination. As in many other plants, the petals of the orchid flowers serve to attract pollinating insects and protect essential organs. Following pollination, petals usually will undergo
senescence
Senescence () or biological aging is the gradual deterioration of functional characteristics in living organisms. The word ''senescence'' can refer to either cellular senescence or to senescence of the whole organism. Organismal senescence inv ...
(i.e. wilt and disintegrate) because it is metabolically expensive to maintain them. However, in many ''Phalaenopsis'' species, such as ''P. violacea'', the petals and sepals find new uses following pollination, thus escaping
programmed cell death
Programmed cell death (PCD; sometimes referred to as cellular suicide) is the death of a cell as a result of events inside of a cell, such as apoptosis or autophagy. PCD is carried out in a biological process, which usually confers advantage durin ...
. In producing
chloroplast
A chloroplast () is a type of membrane-bound organelle known as a plastid that conducts photosynthesis mostly in plant and algal cells. The photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll captures the energy from sunlight, converts it, and stores it in ...
s, they turn green, become fleshy, and start to photosynthesize, as leaves do.
Phytochemistry
Floral fragrance has been analysed for several species. The fragrance of ''
Phalaenopsis bellina
''Phalaenopsis bellina'' is an orchid endemic to Borneo. It is one of 75 species of Phalaenopsis and one of the most commonly cultivated species in the genus.
Distribution
''Phalaenopsis bellina'' is found in parts of Borneo, growing in the can ...
'' has been shown to be composed of about 79 compounds, primarily of the
terpenoid
The terpenoids, also known as isoprenoids, are a class of naturally occurring organic chemicals derived from the 5-carbon compound isoprene and its derivatives called terpenes, diterpenes, etc. While sometimes used interchangeably with "terpenes" ...
class. It was most intense in the morning.
In ''Phalaenopsis'',
phenylpropanoid
The phenylpropanoids are a diverse family of organic compounds that are synthesized by plants from the amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine. Their name is derived from the six-carbon, aromatic phenyl group and the three-carbon propene tail of ...
enzymes are enhanced in the process of plant
acclimatisation
Acclimatization or acclimatisation ( also called acclimation or acclimatation) is the process in which an individual organism adjusts to a change in its environment (such as a change in altitude, temperature, humidity, photoperiod, or pH), a ...
at different levels of
photosynthetic
Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that, through cellular respiration, can later be released to fuel the organism's activities. Some of this chemical energy is stored in c ...
photon flux.
Use in horticulture
![violacea](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Violacea.jpg)
''Phalaenopsis'', abbreviated Phal in the
horticultural trade, are among the most popular orchids sold as potted plants, owing to the ease of propagation and flowering under artificial conditions. They were among the first tropical orchids in
Victorian collections. Since the advent of the
tetraploid
Polyploidy is a condition in which the cells of an organism have more than one pair of ( homologous) chromosomes. Most species whose cells have nuclei (eukaryotes) are diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes, where each set contains ...
hybrid ''Phalaenopsis'' Doris, they have become extremely easy to grow and flower in the home, as long as some care is taken to provide them with conditions that approximate their native habitats. Their commercial production has become an industry.
If very healthy, a ''Phalaenopsis'' plant may have up to ten or more leaves. They bloom in their full glory for several weeks. If kept in the home, the flowers may last two to three months after which a phalaenopsis orchid will need to conserve energy for further leaf, bud, and root development.
In nature, ''Phalaenopsis'' species are typically fond of warm temperatures, thriving in temperatures around 20 to 35
°C
The degree Celsius is the unit of temperature on the Celsius scale (originally known as the centigrade scale outside Sweden), one of two temperature scales used in the International System of Units (SI), the other being the Kelvin scale. The ...
(68–95 °F), but are adaptable to conditions more comfortable for human habitation in temperate zones (15 to 30 °C or 59–86 °F); at temperatures below 18 °C (64.4 °F) overwatering causes root rot and the plants will also drop their leaves if they experience temperatures below 60°F for extended periods. ''Phalaenopsis'' prefer moderate humidity (60–70%) and low light of 12,000 to 20,000
lux
The lux (symbol: lx) is the unit of illuminance, or luminous flux per unit area, in the International System of Units (SI). It is equal to one lumen per square metre. In photometry, this is used as a measure of the intensity, as perceived by the ...
. However, Phalaenopsis orchids can adapt to the lower humidity found in most homes. They are also typically hardier than other species of orchids, and this makes them particularly popular among first-time orchid growers.
The flower spikes appear from the pockets near the base of each leaf. The first sign is a light green "mitten-like" object that protrudes from the basal leaf tissue. Over approximately three months the spike elongates until it begins to swell fat buds that will bloom.
It previously was believed that flowering is triggered by a night-time drop in temperature of around 5 to 6 degrees over two to four consecutive weeks, usually in the fall, and a day-time drop in temperature to below . Using two ''Phalaenopsis'' clones, Matthew G. Blanchard and Erik S. Runkle (2006) established that, other culture conditions being optimal, flower initiation is controlled by daytime temperatures declining below , with a definite inhibition of flowering at temperatures exceeding . The long-held belief that reduced evening temperatures control flower initiation in ''Phalaenopsis'' was shown to be false. Rather, lower daytime temperatures influence flowering, while night time temperatures do not appear to have any effect.
The effect of fertilizer source and medium composition on vegetative growth and mineral nutrition has been studied.
Award of Garden Merit
![Phalaenopsis hieroglyphica toapel](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Phalaenopsis_hieroglyphica_toapel.jpg)
In cultivation in the United Kingdom, the following have been awarded the
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity.
The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nort ...
's
Award of Garden Merit
The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions.
History
The Award of Garden Merit ...
:
*Brother Pico Sweetheart gx.
*''
Phalaenopsis amabilis
''Phalaenopsis amabilis'', commonly known as the moon orchid or moth orchid in India and as in Indonesia, is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae. It is native to the Indonesia and Australia, and widely cultivated as a ...
''
*Yellow Lightning gx.
References
*
* Olaf Gruss & Manfred Wolf - Phalaenopsis ; Edition Ulmer, (in German)
* Eric A. Christenson - Phalaenopsis: a Monograph ;
* Harper, Tom (February 2004). Phalaenopsis Culture: Advice for Growing 20 Species. ''Orchids Magazine'' 73 (2). Delray Beach, FL: American Orchid Society, 2004
* Leroy-Terquem, Gerald and Jean Parisot. 1991. ''Orchids: Care and Cultivation.'' London: Cassel Publishers Ltd.
* Schoser, Gustav. 1993. ''Orchid Growing Basics.'' New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
* White, Judy. 1996. ''Taylor’s Guide to Orchids.'' Frances Tenenbaum, Series Editor. New York: Houghton-Mifflin,
External links
*
*
''Phalaenopsis'' orchids : species and primary hybrids*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q133897
Epiphytic orchids
Lithophytic orchids
Vandeae genera
Taxa named by Carl Ludwig Blume