''Phalaenopsis micholitzii'' is a species of

plant Plants are predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all current definitions of Plantae exclud ...

in the family

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 ...

. It is

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 the Zamboanga peninsula in the island of Mindanao,

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

Description

The small, epiphytic plants have fleshy leaves. The fleshy, cupped, 5 to 6 cm wide flowers are not fragrant,Otway, B. (2017, March 30). ''Phalaenopsis micholitzii''. Pumpkin Beth - Horticulturist and Garden Writer. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://www.pumpkinbeth.com/plants/phalaenopsis-micholitzii/ or only slightly fragrant, and they last 25 to 35 days.''Phalaenopsis micholitzii''. (2020, December 10). Plantas En Peligro De Extinción. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://www.plantasenpeligrodeextincion.com/phalaenopsis-micholitzii/ The floral colouration may be white, cream-coloured, yellowish or greenish.

Ecology

Its natural

habitat In ecology, the term habitat summarises the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical ...

is subtropical or tropical moist lowland

forest A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...

Etymology

The specific epithet is refers to the German orchid collector Wilhelm Micholitz,''Phalaenopsis micholitzii'' Rolfe. (n.d.). Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia - IOSPE. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from http://www.orchidspecies.com/phalmicholtzii.htm who worked as a plant collector for

Henry Frederick Conrad Sander Henry Frederick Conrad Sander (Heinrich Friedrich Conrad Sander; 4 March 1847 in Bremen – 23 December 1920 in Bruges) was a German-born orchidologist and nurseryman who settled in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England and is noted for his monthly ...

Taxonomy

There appears to be conflicting information about the correct author of the taxon. The

International Plant Names Index The International Plant Names Index (IPNI) describes itself as "a database of the names and associated basic bibliographical details of seed plants, ferns and lycophytes." Coverage of plant names is best at the rank of species and genus. It inclu ...

lists three entires of ''Phalaenopsis micholitzii''. Several sources indicate, that Rolfe is the author,''Phalaenopsis micholitzii'' Rolfe in GBIF Secretariat (2022). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2022-12-22.''Phalaenopsis micholitzii'' Rolfe. (n.d.-b). Tropicos , Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from http://legacy.tropicos.org/Name/50019270 while others name Sander ex H.J.Veitch as the taxon authors.Orchid Species: Phalaenopsis micholitzii. (n.d.). International Orchid Foundation (IOF). Retrieved December 22, 2022, from https://www.orchids.org/grexes/phalaenopsis-micholitzii

Conservation

It is threatened by

habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ...

and overcollection.

Cytology

The diploid chromosome count of this species is 2n = 38.Lee, Y. I., Chung, M. C., Kuo, H. C., Wang, C. N., Lee, Y. C., Lin, C. Y., ... & Yeh, C. H. (2017)
"The evolution of genome size and distinct distribution patterns of rDNA in Phalaenopsis (Orchidaceae)."
Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 185(1), 65-80.

Horticulture

This species is rarely cultivated.Lagrelle, B. (n.d.). ''Phalaenopsis micholitzii'' (Rolfe 1890). Espèces De Phalaenopsis. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from http://bernard.lagrelle.pagesperso-orange.fr/Micholitzii/anglais/Phalaenopsis%20micholitzii%20anglais.htm It has been reported to be very slow growing.Livingston, B. (2002). Hybridizing with ''Phalaenopsis'' Species: ''Phalaenopsis micholitzii''. Robert Bedard Horticulture. Retrieved December 22, 2022, from http://www.robert-bedard.com/orchids/phal_micholitzii.html

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1332507, from2=Q109497804 micholitzii Critically endangered plants Endemic orchids of the Philippines Flora of Mindanao Taxonomy articles created by Polbot