''Phalaenopsis modesta'' is a species of orchid endemic to

Borneo Borneo (; id, Kalimantan) is the third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. At the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, in relation to major Indonesian islands, it is located north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and eas ...

. The specific epithet ''modesta'', from the Latin ''modestus'', means unassuming, moderate or modest.

Description

This epiphytic species is usually found at the base of the

phorophyte In botany phorophytes are plants, on which 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. Th ...

s. The plants have 1–4 elliptic-obovate, glossy, 23 cm long and 6 cm wide leaves. Fragrant, white flowers with purple transverse barring are produced on pendent, branched or unbranched inflorescences. The labellum lacks trichomes. Flowering occurs from September to November and from May to June.Christenson, Eric A. (2001). Phalaenopsis : a monograph. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. pp. 145–148. ISBN 1604691719.

Ecology

''Phalaenopsis modesta'' occurs at elevations of 50–900 m above sea level.

Taxonomy

The variety ''Phalaenopsis modesta'' var. ''bella'' Gruss & Röllke is suspected of being a hybrid of ''

Phalaenopsis javanica ''Phalaenopsis javanica'' is a species of orchid native to Java and Sumatra. The specific epithet ''javanica'' refers to the Indonesian island Java. Description These epiphytic plants have numerous, shiny, waxy elliptic-obovate, distichously ar ...

'' and ''Phalaenopsis modesta''.
''Phalaenopsis modesta'' is said to be closely related to ''

Phalaenopsis violacea ''Phalaenopsis violacea'' is a species of orchid endemism, endemic to the Andaman Islands, the Nicobar Islands and northwestern Sumatra. Description ''Phalaenopsis violacea'' is a species of orchid belonging to the genus ''Phalaenopsis''.The pla ...

'' based on floral characteristics. This is not supported by genetic evidence.

Conservation

This species has been categorized as vulnerable (V)Lamb, A. (1992). Orchid conservation in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo): a list of species of botanical and horticultural importance and interest and their conservation status. Botanic Gardens Conservation News, 1(10), 44–47. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24755392

References

modesta ''Modesta'' is a 1956 short film, set in Puerto Rico, in which a peasant woman rebels against her husband's authoritarianism. She and the other women of her community organize the Liberated Women League to fight for their rights. It stars Ant ...

Orchids of Borneo Orchids of Indonesia Orchids of Malaysia Epiphytic orchids {{Phalaenopsis-stub